The storied Oregon Trail stretched from Missouri through southern Wyoming into the Bear River Valley, along the shores of Bear Lake, continuing through present-day Montpelier and Soda Springs. There spurs separated the Main Trail and The Hudspeth Cutoff before converging near The City of Rocks, in Idaho’s Cassia County.
The Oregon Trail was originally a trade route for mountain men and early settlers, passable only on foot or by horseback. As traffic increased, the trail improved, so when the first migrant wagon train left Independence, Missouri in 1836, a wagon trail had been cleared from there to Fort Hall, Idaho, near present day Pocatello. The 2170 mile long journey from the Missouri River to Oregon could then be traveled by covered wagon.
From the mid-1830s to the late 1860s the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were traveled by about 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, business owners and their families. The eastern half of the trail was also traveled by those on their way to the California Trail, Mormon Trail, and Bozeman Trail, before routes separated for their final destinations. As the trail matured, many cutoffs and shortcuts branched from the main trail.
The route followed river valleys, since grass and water were absolutely necessary. And with thousands of people and livestock traveling on the trail at any given time, the travelers had to spread out to find clean water, wood, good campsites, and grass. The dust kicked up by the many travelers was a constant complaint, there may have been up to 20 and 50 wagons traveling abreast where the terrain would allow. Mosquitoes were constant pests, and travelers often noted that animals were covered with blood from their bites.
Gradually the trail became easier, and the average trip dropped from about 160 days to 140 days. A favorite resting place was Clover Creek, near present-day Montpelier, Idaho. Montpelier is home to the National Oregon-California Trail Center, official museum of the trail, where visitors learn about life in the 1800s; and can even relive the experience of riding the trail in a simulated wagon ride. It’s a great place to spend the day with your family, learning from the past.
From Montpelier the trail continues northwest to present-day Soda Springs, Idaho, whose springs were a favorite attraction of the pioneers, who marveled at the hot carbonated water and chugging “steamboat” springs. Many did their laundry in the hot water. West of Soda Springs the main trail turns northwest through Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, following the Portneuf River valley to Fort Hall, an old fur trading post, located on the Snake River. Traveling from Fort Bridger to Fort Hall, about 210 miles, took nine to twelve days.
Hudspeth’s Cutoff separated from the main trail about five miles west of Soda Springs, and was traveled mostly by those heading for the California Trail. Bypassing Fort Hall, it was shorter than the main route, but since the route crossed five mountain ranges, both took about the same amount of time. Since the Cutoff divided traffic between two routes, more grass and water were available to the travelers. The Hudspeth Cutoff rejoined the California Trail at Cassia Creek, passing through the City of Rocks, near present day Almo, Idaho.
The main trail proceeded almost due west of Fort Hall on the south side of the Snake River, continuing past American Falls, Massacre Rocks and Register Rock. Near the junction of the Raft and Snake Rivers the California Trail diverged from the Oregon Trail, then continued past the present -day city of Twin Falls, before continuing through southern Idaho into Oregon.
When the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, usage of the trail declined, since the trip could be made substantially faster, cheaper, and safer by rail. Today, modern highways, such as Interstates 80 and 84 follow much of the original Oregon Trail.
Source: Wikipedia 2021; National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm
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