Patsy's Mine

This hike has been on our radar for some time, but it's in Farmington, right above Lagoon Amusement Park, and with it being farther away, it took some planning.  We combined this hike with Gilgal Gardens as it was on the way, so that made it seem like it was worth the drive - 2-4-1 activities!

The history of Patsy's Mine is very clouded and not much is known.

Patsy Marley was from Ireland and was a prizefighter boxer there and suddenly ended up in Farmington, Utah.  He was convinced there was silver, gold and copper and other precious metals in the mountain due to the silvered color rock in the area. Sometime in 1904 he made a claim on the land.  It is not known when he started the mine, but it's estimated he worked on it for  about 20 years.  He lived in a small house in Farmington and made the trek up to the mine daily, and sometimes made camp just above the mine.  When he finally gave up, having found nothing, he left the town as quickly and unknown as when he arrived.  Nobody knows exactly when he left or where he went.  The mine goes back about 150-200 feet or so, and only branches off once with a very short arm.  No way to get lost in there, it's short and pretty straight back. It's about 20 degrees cooler and dark in the back. You will need flashlights or headlamps which is what we brought.

It's just under a mile to the mine from the trailhead, climbing about 500 feet in elevation.  Hike another 1/2 mile and you come to "Flag Rock", and climb another 500 feet in elevation.  Flag Rock can be seen from all around Farmington and the American Flag was placed there just after 9/11.  The height of the rock it was placed on, is about the same height of the twin towers, from the valley floor to the rock - it's quite high!

Our whole group (Us, Megan & Corey, Matt & Marissa) went to the mine, but only Jacob and Corey went on up to Flag Rock.

One of the few known photos of Patsy

On the way up

Flag Rock at the top

We stopped to find some geocaches and Matt made the find!  Actually three or four finds!

Heading into the mine - it's tall in most places you can stand up fully

Now you see why it took him up to 20 years!  This is a lot of work!

They made it to Flag Rock!