Welcome to Hilltop Mine, a high-altitude relic perched between Mount Sherman and Mount Sheridan in Utah. This site is a fascinating glimpse into the history of mining in the Mosquito Range during the great silver boom of the 1800s. The Hilltop Mine, now a weathered and sun-bleached structure, was once a bustling hub of activity. It wasn’t the first claim in the Mosquito Range, but it was certainly among the highest, reaching nearly 13,000 feet. This made it one of the so-called ‘aerial’ mines, where workers often found themselves literally working among the clouds.
The silver rush in this region was sparked by the discovery at Moose Mine, which predated the more famous Leadville discovery by several years. Following this, Hilltop and other mines like Russia, Present Help, and Dolly Varden flourished. These mines presented enormous challenges to the miners, who braved thin air and extreme weather conditions in their quest for precious metals.
In 1873, the Hilltop group claims were established with the discovery of the Last Chance lode, a rich vein of silver-laden lead ore. Miners extracted ore first using mules and burros, and later with a 13,000-foot aerial tram. This arduous work paid off, with Hilltop Mine shipping $675,000 worth of ore in 1888 alone, translating to millions in today’s dollars.
The history of Hilltop Mine is emblematic of the broader mining boom in the American West, a period marked by rapid development and the relentless pursuit of fortune. Today, as the site slowly returns to nature, it serves as a monument to the tenacity and ambition of those who dared to reach for the sky, both literally and figuratively.
