Rio Tinto Kennecott Visitor Experience — Local services in Herriman

So I’ve worked here before so let me give a little information.

Visitor center is usuallly closed from Halloween until mid spring.

It is currently open for the 2023 season.

Go during the week instead of the weekend and you’ll have a better chance of seeing a blast. Blasts might happen around 11 am for example,so book a 1030 tour. Or around 2, so book an130 tour. You might be able to call the lark gate and ask what the blast schedule is for that day.

It’s $6 a ticket you can purchase online or in person at the gift shop

You ride a bus up there. The first bus leaves at 930, the last bus to take you up is at 230. If you come later than that you won’t be able to go up there that day. You can’t drive on your own like you use to at the old visitor center. Google says it closes at 4, but just know the last bus to take you up is at 230.

The last bus to take you Back DOWN to the parking lot area is 330.

There is a vending machine by the gift shop before you board the us. You’re encouraged to bring a drink with you especially on a hot day.

There is a viewing thing you can use for 25 cents so make sure you bring quarters or you can bring your own binocular if you want.

Go when it’s warmer but not too hot. It’s pretty cold and miserable in the colder seasons. 🥶 Dress warm if you go when it’s colder.

There are some portapottys on the upper level.

The buses run about every 20 minutes to take you back to the parking area.

There is no tour you walk around and look at the displays yourself. Security may be able to answer some frequently asked questions and the bus drivers may give you some information but other than that..

If you’d like a picture with your whole family by the big tire, etc. security will be happy to take pictures for you.

There is a pathway that will take you to a lower level. Be sure to stay on the path between the chain.

Be sure to watch your young kids and make sure they don’t climb on the barriers, throw objects, or climb on the equipment . This is for...

We live just a few miles from the largest copper mine in the world! Yet nearly all of the children under 10 have never seen it. A landslide closed the visitor's center in 2013 for at least 5 years and then . . . Covid.

So this Grammy was gifted an easy outing with 9 year old grandson N. And 6 year old princess L. I was pretty sure they would think it was boring so I told them this was educational and not meant to be fun.

It helped to tell them it is the largest open pit mine in the world. That piqued their interest, which they kept for over an hour while there.

I was a bit bummed that the fee was $18 for the three of us but, by the time we finished, I felt like we hadn't covered the cost for Rio Tinto to shuttle us to and from the lookouts and the benefits of the displays and driver remarks.

The kids had lots of questions and even got a bit of an education on the pros and cons of this particular mine yet left with an understanding of the people, history of and value of the mine to national security.

Now when they drive to our house they will appreciate what they see covering the entire vista to the West of our home.

I wish we had learned a bit about it a before we visited. Glad we took bottled water. A bit sorry we forgot the sunscreen and sunglasses for all...

Newly reopened and better than ever, this is a unique chance to view one of the largest open pit mines in the world. There are no words to describe the immense size of this mining operation, it has to be seen to be believed! This experience is open 7 days a week from April 1 to October 31. Reservations are available for every half hour starting at 8:30am. Shuttles to the mine overlook depart from and return to the parking area every 30 minutes. The last shuttle departs at 3:00pm and returns by 4:30. Visitors must have a reservation for the day of their visit. Reservations can be made online or onsite at the Bingham Canyon Lions Gift Shop which is located at the tour site. The admission fee is just $5.00 per adult and the money is donated to charities that the mine supports. I easily made reservations online and recommend this in order to guarantee a seat on the shuttle at your desired time. There are mine employees available at the overlook to answer your questions, they have a fantastic wealth of information to offer to enrich your understanding of the mine operations, we found it very interesting to talk with them. There are many photo opportunities including with some of the gigantic equipment used...