Near Soda Springs in Caribou County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Idaho's Emigrant Trails
In 1843 wagons first rolled past Fort Hall to face the harshness and desolation of the Snake River Plain. Dust, sagebrush, lava rock, mosquitoes, a burning sun, cold nights, and a concerned Native American population made the journey an arduous one. Yet, these pioneers continued on and helped to establish an ocean-to-ocean nation.
Prior to the discovery of gold, California-bound emigrants followed the main Oregon Trail to Raft River before turning south on the California Trail. Gold seekers soon opened new routes in an attempt to reach their destinations sooner. Hudspeth's Cutoff (1849) directed traffic west from Soda Springs. The Salt Lake Alternative (Hensley's Cutoff, 1848) enabled travelers to obtain supplies in Salt Lake City before continuing their journey. These routes joined in the City of Rocks area and headed west through Granite Pass.
As their numbers increased, lands along the trail became barren of grass and wood, and water sources often became tainted. Consequently, alternate routes were explored and utilized. The South Alternate (1843), Northside Alternate (1840's), North Alternate (1850), Goodale's Cutoff (1852), Lander Road (1858), and Kelton Road (1869) all became heavily utilized by emigrant and early Idaho settlers.
Erected by Idaho Department of Transportation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.
Location. 42° 38.861′ N, 111° 42.111′ W. Marker is near Soda Springs, Idaho, in Caribou County. Marker is on Soda Point Power Plant Road near Reservoir Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1599 Soda Point Power Plant Road, Soda Springs ID 83276, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trails, Rails and Highways (here, next to this marker); Sheep Rock Geology (here, next to this marker); Hudspeth Cutoff (here, next to this marker); Fort Hall (here, next to this marker); The Value Of A Shortcut (a few steps from this marker); Guiding Landmark... (a few steps from this marker); Horatio's Journey (a few steps from this marker); William Henry Harrison (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Soda Springs.
More about this marker. There are five markers inside this kiosk located on the Oregon Trail near Sheep Rock (Soda Point).
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 316 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.