Provo Canyon Guard Quarters, Military fortification in Utah County, United States.
Provo Canyon Guard Quarters is a stone fortification built in 1857 on the north side of Provo Canyon, about 200 feet above the canyon floor off U.S. Route 189 at an elevation of roughly 5,330 feet. Several walls remain intact, but much of the structure has deteriorated and is overgrown with scrub oak and other vegetation; the quarters are still easily identifiable.
This post was built in 1857 during conflict between US authorities and residents of the territory, meant to keep watch over the area. It was one of several similar outposts created during this troubled time.
The post was one of three fortifications Brigham Young's followers built during the 1857–58 Utah War, after he declared martial law and gathered the Nauvoo Legion. Ten men were assigned here, a token force given the site's distance from likely fighting. From the war's end until the Black Hawk War closed in 1868, guards watched Native American activity from this spot.
The site sits in a canyon at about 5,300 feet elevation near a main road, making it fairly accessible to reach. The remains are partly weathered, so wear sturdy shoes and take care when walking around the uneven ground.
The post stood about 5,330 feet (1,620 m) above sea level, a couple hundred feet above the canyon floor on the north side of Provo Canyon, just off U.S. Route 189. Scrub oak and other vegetation have overtaken much of the masonry, yet the remaining walls keep the quarters easy to pick out from the road.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,151 contributors worldwide.