Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Utah

Hardup

A ghost town of unknown status in Box Elder County County, Utah.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Some ghost towns feel like museums. Hardup feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Hardup is a ghost town in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. A Utah cartoonist has joked that the settlement "was apparently named by some cowboy without a girlfriend".

Box Elder County County holds 12 documented ghost towns, including Blue Creek, Cedar Creek, Golden — Hardup keeps them company on the map.

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The story of Hardup

Utah's ghost towns split between failed Mormon farm villages and the rough mining camps the faithful mostly watched from a distance.

Hardup is a ghost town in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. A Utah cartoonist has joked that the settlement "was apparently named by some cowboy without a girlfriend".

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Hardup is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Hardup is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Hardup is roughly 41.8956, -113.1517 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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Good to know

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Hardup FAQs

01Where is Hardup located?
Hardup is in Box Elder County County, Utah, mapped near 41.8956, -113.1517.
02What county is Hardup in?
Hardup sits in Box Elder County County, Utah. See our full guide to ghost towns in Box Elder County County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Hardup?
Hardup is a ghost town in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. A Utah cartoonist has joked that the settlement "was apparently named by some cowboy without a girlfriend".
04What remains at Hardup today?
The on-the-ground condition of Hardup is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
05Can you visit Hardup?
Here's the honest truth: access to Hardup is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Hardup is roughly 41.8956, -113.1517 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Hardup, Utah”), CC BY-SA.

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More in Box Elder County County

All 12 ghost towns in Box Elder County County →