Discover the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails
The Sweetwater Trail
Discover the Oregon-California-Mormon Trails on this tour and walk in the steps of the pioneers. What was that spirit that drove these trailblazers to travel across high deserts and mountains to make a new life? The trails have stories of hardship, death and triumph. Visit Independence Rock, Split Rock, Devil’s Gate and Martin’s Cove to learn about this fascinating part of our history.
Lost Treasures
Sam Peterson, a local historian who passed away in 1997, grew up in Fremont County and shared many memorable stories over the years. One story Sam told was of a hidden cache of gold along the Oregon Trail, just north of current day Jeffrey City. The grandson of Oregon Trail emigrants came to Fremont County in search of a gold cave his grandparents had found during their trek.
The man’s family had taken refuge in a cave north of the trail during an attack by raiding thieves. The cave had a waterfall flowing over it and was the perfect spot for the women and children to hide while the men successfully fought off the thieves. When the men returned to the cave, they noticed a dull yellow metal on the cave wall. The group had no way of knowing whether the metal was true gold or fool’s gold. With little time to spare, they continued their journey and left the cave, vowing to return someday.
The grandson arrived at Peterson’s homestead in the 1930s looking for the cave his father (one of the children in the original party) had described. Although they searched the area for days, they never found a cave with a waterfall. Maybe the lost gold still exists in the Sweetwater Rocks.
Tour Options
Full Day Driving Tour- 85 Miles Round-Trip From Jeffrey City
Half Day Driving Tour- 75 Miles Round-Trip
For a shorter tour, travel directly to Sun Ranch and Devil’s Gate State Historic Site, less than a mile apart, where you can tour the Mormon Handcart Visitor’s Center and follow the interpretive walking paths. Both provide details about life on the Oregon-California-Mormon-49er Trail. (See the full day tour information.)
Jeffery City, WY
The tour begins in Jeffrey City, a uranium mining bust town that today is moving towards revitalization with new mining activity. Although still a near-ghost town, Jeffrey City offers a convenience store and a bar/restaurant where the locals share drinks and tales. It’s a perfect starting point for the Sweetwater Trail, which follows the path of the pioneers.
From Jeffrey City, follow Hwy. 287/789 southeast. Within 2 miles, you will have a view of Split Rock, named for obvious reasons, straight ahead. In 5 miles, Green Mountain, on your right, will become obvious while Ferris Mountain is off to the southeast and the Sweetwater Rocks are directly north.
Split Rock
In 14.5 miles, you will come to the Split Rock Rest Area and Interpretive Site on the left, where a short walking path overlooks Split Rock Meadows. Signs describe a Pony Express relay station, wild horses that still run free and why Split Rock was important. Continue southeast another 8 miles to Muddy Gap Junction, where Ferris Mountain looms straight ahead. Take a left and go north on Hwy. 220 for 19 miles to Independence Rock State Historic Site.
Independence Rock
At Independence Rock a walking path allows you to see where emigrants carved their names in the rock. The site is named after the 4th of July, which is the date by which the pioneers hoped to reach the landmark to make it over the Continental Divide before harsh winter weather set in.
Devil's Gate
Return to the highway heading back the way you came for just over 6 miles to Devil’s Gate State Historic Site, on the right. A short walking loop gives you an overview of the Sweetwater River and its importance to the emigrants. It was here that the Martin Handcart Company encountered a harsh October snowstorm that killed many and forced the rest to seek refuge in a cove.
Sun Ranch
Back on Hwy. 220, continue south less than a mile to the Sun Ranch turn-off, also on the right. Sun Ranch is now owned by the Church of Latter-day Saints which has turned a historic ranch building into a visitor’s center and provides access to the publicly-managed Martin’s Cove. The BLM and the LDS Church have built foot paths from the visitor’s center to the cove and to Devil’s Gate. The round-trip walk to the cove is 4.5 miles. Back on Hwy. 220, return to Jeffrey City through Muddy Gap.
Museums & Exhibits
Children’s Center for Arts, Technology and Science
120 S. Third St. E
Riverton, WY
Dubois Museum: Wind River Historical Center
909 W. Ramshorn
Dubois, WY
Eastern Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center
90 Ethete Rd.
Ft. Washakie, WY
Evans/Dahl Memorial Museum
545 Main St.
Lander, WY
Fremont County Pioneer Museum
1445 W. Main St.
Lander, WY
Fremont County Pioneer Museum
1443 W. Main St.
Lander, WY
Gallery of the Wind & Museum
14631 US Hwy 287
Ft. Washakie, WY
Headwaters Arts & Conference Center
20 Stalnaker St
Dubois, WY
Intertribal Center, CWC
2820 W. Main
Riverton, WY
Lander Art Center
258 E. Main St.
Lander, WY
Lander Children’s Museum
465 Lincoln Avenue
Lander, WY
National Bighorn Sheep Center
10 Bighorn Lane
Dubois, WY
National Museum of Military Vehicles
6419 U.S. Hwy 26
Dubois, WY
Northern Arapaho Experience Culture Room
180 Red Wolf Place
Riverton, WY
Riverton Museum
700 E. Park Ave.
Riverton, WY
Sixth Crossing
4181 US Hwy 789
Lander, WY
South Pass City State Historic Site
125 Main Street
South Pass, WY
St. Stephens Indian Mission & Heritage Center
33 St. Stephens Rd.
St. Stephens, WY
Wind River Heritage Center
1075 S. Federal Blvd.
Riverton, WY
Wind River Valley Artists Guild Gallery
20 Stalnaker St.
Dubois, WY
Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary
8616 Hwy 287
Lander, WY
Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Exhibit
260 Buena Vista
Lander, WY