West Point in Davis County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Hensley / Salt Lake Cutoff-Bluff Road
Photographed By Randy Higley, July 4, 2020
1. Hensley/Salt Lake Cutoff-Bluff Road Marker
"Following the bluff closely, it [the Hensley Salt Lake Cutoff] intersects Gentile Street, ... from this point the old road is on the location of what is designated as the 'Old Bluff Road'. ... it will continue through lower Syracuse and Westpoint in a North-westerly direction until it reaches Muskrat Spring in East Hooper. A herdsman named John F. Stoddard, who worked for Captain Hooper, relates how often he could look to the East and see covered wagons making their way along the bluff hoping to camp that night at Muskrat Spring."
John M. Belnap, History of Hooper, Land of Beautiful Sunsets.
2002 Utah Westerners Foundation & Utah Crossroads Chapter OCTA HSLC UT-2
Erected 2002 by Utah Westerners Foundation & Utah Crossroads Chapter OCTA.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 41° 6.827′ N, 112° 6.047′ W. Marker is in West Point, Utah, in Davis County. Marker is on North 4000 W, 0.2 miles south of Lake Park Court, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located past the West Point Cemetery at the entrance to the West Point Cemetery buildings, on the east side of the entrance. Touch for map.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First School House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Walker Brothers Store (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hensley/Salt Lake Cutoff Ruts (approx. 1.8 miles away); Antelope Island (approx. 2 miles away); Antelope Island Causeway (approx. 2 miles away); Great Salt Lake (approx. 2 miles away); Syracuse First Social Center (approx. 2.7 miles away); Historical Wilcox Cabin (approx. 2.7 miles away).
More about this marker. The marker is only marked on one side.
Regarding Hensley / Salt Lake Cutoff-Bluff Road. The marker describes the location of the Hensley/Salt Lake Cutoff used to connect Salt Lake City to the Oregon and California Trails by taking the northern route around the Great Salt Lake as taken by Samuel J. Hensley after his men became mired in mud trying to cross the Hastings Cutoff crossing the Salt Lake Desert south of the Great Salt Lake during a year of heavy rain. Hensley lost all his provisions and had to return to Salt Lake City in 1848. Hensley then took the route around the north end of the Great Salt Lake to make his way to California.
Related markers.
Photographed By Randy Higley, July 4, 2020
2. Hensley/Salt Lake Cutoff-Bluff Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2021, by Randy Higley of Hooper, Utah. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Randy Higley of Hooper, Utah. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
