Ponderosa Campground

Ponderosa Campground

Ponderosa Campground can be found close to Nephi, UT. Here you can find a hill full of great quality, banded, red and white onyx. Most of the onyx found at the Ponderosa Campground is fine grained and can easily be polished. To get the best specimens bring a sledge hammer, chisels, and pry bars. These are used to break the tough onyx out of the hill. While at Ponderosa Campground be sure to survey your surroundings. Some areas will have better deposits than others. Also be sure to look at large boulders at the base of the quarry because you can sometimes find regions of nice material. Some find it easier to work the boulders than the side of the mountain.  If you forgot your hand tools, don’t worry. There are specimens found all over Ponderosa Campground.


To get to Ponderosa Campground go six miles east from Nephi on Highway 132. At this location a road leading to Mt. Nebo intersects from the left. Follow that road 3 ½ miles to the Nebo Scenic Loop. Turn right and continue 2/10ths of a mile farther until ruts can be seen on the left, heading up the hills to the trees.  Those ruts represent the old mining road to the quarry. It is not possible to drive to the diggings anymore so you will need to park on the pavement by Ponderosa Campground and walk the short distance to the site.

Treasures found at Ponderosa Campground:
Onyx

GPS Stats (approx):