Bingham Canyon Mine is the big hole west of Salt Lake City that you can see from a plane window, and it is one of the biggest pieces of Utah's industrial history. It has also had a bumpy visitor story: a public overlook closed after a huge slide in 2013, a new Visitor Experience opened in 2019, and the company's own page says it is open today. This guide covers the history, the size, and what to check before you make the drive.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | About 2.75 miles across, three-quarters of a mile deep | KSL (2019) |
| First underground mining | 1890 | KSL |
| Utah Copper Company founded | 1903 | KSL |
| Owner since 1989 | Rio Tinto | KSL |
| Visitor site | 12732 Bacchus Highway, Herriman | Rio Tinto |
| Hours | 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily | Rio Tinto |
| Tickets | $6.00, under 5 free, buy online | Rio Tinto |
How the pit began
KSL's history of the canyon says Enos Wall visited in 1887 and recognized the potential for low-grade porphyry copper, ore with a thin, spread-out dose of copper that would not pay under old underground methods. Underground mining began in 1890. In 1903 Wall co-founded the Utah Copper Company, which built a mill at Copperton able to handle 300 tons a day, and the property was optioned to investors brought in through mining engineer Daniel C. Jackling. KSL says the mine became the world's first open-pit copper mine in 1904. Sources do not agree on the year: KSL's 2019 visitor story says the mine opened in 1906, so treat the exact start as one of those dates and not a settled fact.
The business grew through consolidation. Two rival companies merged in 1910, Kennecott Copper Corporation bought a quarter of Utah Copper in 1915 and absorbed the rest in 1936, and Utah ranked as the fourth-largest copper producer in the country by 1919. KSL reports that nearly a third of the copper used by the Allied Forces in World War II came from the mine, and that from 1904 to 1982 it produced more than 24.6 billion pounds of copper. Rio Tinto acquired it in 1989. KSL says the pit was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, among the first Utah sites listed.
For the other side of the same era, see our Geneva Steel history, which covers the Utah Valley industry that grew up the same century, and the Eureka and Tintic ghost towns guide for the mining camps south of here.
The 2013 slide
In April 2013 about 165 million tons of earth slipped in the pit's northeast section, KSL reported. Engineers had measured ground movement, in fractions of an inch, for roughly two months. No employees were hurt, though roads, buildings and vehicles in the pit were damaged. The visitor center that had stood at the overlook stayed closed for years. In 2019 the site reopened under a new name, the Visitor Experience, with shuttles instead of driving up to the exhibits.
The visitor question
Rio Tinto's visitor page, which we read on Nov. 3, 2026, says the Visitor Experience is now open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day, holidays included. Tickets are $6.00 per person, children under 5 are free, and the page says tickets are limited and not guaranteed at the gate. Saturdays and public holidays are the busiest. You can cancel up to an hour before your slot for a refund.
It is self-guided and takes place at the mine overlook. Rio Tinto says you can see the active pit, two levels of exhibits on mining and its operations, and large equipment including a haul truck. A typical visit runs about an hour. The page does not name a season, and earlier years had an April-to-October window, so check the page for current dates before driving.
Planning the trip from Provo
- Book first. Buy tickets online before you leave; do not count on the gate.
- Allow time. The page lists a late 2:30 p.m. last shuttle, so plan to arrive well before then.
- Combine it. Our Salt Lake City day trip guide has ideas for the rest of the day, and the day trips from Provo list covers other outings.
- Know the county line. Herriman is in Salt Lake County, which works differently from Utah County in several ways; see Salt Lake County vs. Utah County.
Why Utah Valley cares
Heavy industry is part of the Wasatch Front's story, and Utah Valley's own chapter is in our Geneva Steel history. Natural resources are also the subject of our Water Wars guide, and Provo history gives the local background.
Related on Provo.com
- Utah Valley water wars
- Geneva Steel history
- Eureka and Tintic ghost towns
- Salt Lake City day trip from Provo
- Provo history
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Bingham Canyon Mine?
Who started the mine?
Can the public visit Bingham Canyon Mine?
How much does it cost?
Where is the visitor site and how do you get in?
What happened in the 2013 slide?
Is the pit still an open-pit mine?
How far is it from Provo?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Rio Tinto Kennecott Visitor Experience, Rio Tinto. Checked November 3, 2026.
- Rio Tinto Kennecott offers new visitor experience 6 years after massive slide, KSL. Checked November 3, 2026.
- Reflecting on the rich history of copper mining in Bingham Canyon, KSL. Checked November 3, 2026.
