Historic Pine Valley Mountain

That great forested hulk to the north is one of the largest laccoliths on Earth — a dome of granite-like rock shoved up from below some twenty million years ago, a volcano that never quite broke the surface, since laid bare by erosion into the highest range in southwestern Utah. Long before any settler, the Southern Paiute, the Nuwuvi, climbed its cool high valleys each season to hunt deer and gather berries and seeds, a green refuge above the desert heat. It still towers over the St. George country, the landmark of the whole southwestern corner.

What the plaque says

To the north stands historic Pine Valley Mountain, one of the best known and most historic mountains of the Southern Utah Rockies. Indian legends carry traditions of this imposing landmark back many generations. To the Mormon Pioneers it furnished fuel and food -- wild game, pinenuts, and berries -- in abundance. In 1866 mountain mahogany and yellow pine, particularly suitable for use in making certain types of pipes for the Mormon Tabernacle Organ, construction of which was just beginning, were discovered on the mountain by scouts who had searched most of the Great Basin Area. With crude equipment the huge logs were conveyed to saw mills and by ox team to Salt Lake City. Although this world-renowned organ has been remodeled several times, much of the original wood from Pine Valley Mountain has been retained including the large ornamental pipes in the original organ case.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Hurricane Canal Trail — 8.5 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge
• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm — 11 mi
  Real dinosaur footprints preserved in ancient sandstone
• Snow Canyon State Park — 12 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• Grafton Ghost Town — 20 mi
  A photogenic ghost town used in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

More markers nearby

• Harrisburg Historic Pioneer Cemetery — 4.0 mi
• Monument to Harrisburg Pioneers — 4.0 mi
• Harrisburg Residents (2) Markers (DUP & SUP) — 4.0 mi
• Covington Mansion (3) Markers — 4.3 mi