Near Shoshoni in Fremont County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Wind River Canyon

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 31, 2010

1. Wind River Canyon Marker

Inscription. Boysen Dam, completed in 1951, marks the southern margin of the east-west trending Owl Creek Mountains and the Wind River Canyon. Drained by the north flowing Wind River, the canyon is 14 miles long, 1.3-2 miles wide and 2,400 feet deep where it crosses the axis of the mountain range, north of here. Steep canyon walls display rocks of the Precambrian and Paleozoic eras ranging in age from several billion to 235 million years. The Wind River originally flowed across flat terrain beneath which lay the buried Owl Creek Mountains. These mountains formed 50 million years ago, as an upward fold in the earth's crust, and were subsequently covered by younger sediment. About 4 million years ago a broad regional uplift of the earth's crust resulted in the incision of the Wind River's channel onto the rising crust, creating the canyon which cuts across the Owl Creek Mountains at a right angle.Rivers usually flow around or parallel to mountains rather than across them. Sediment covering the Owl Creek Mountains was removed via erosion, resulting in development of the landscape you now view. The process continues.

Portions of the

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Canyon highway follow an ancient trail used by Native Americans, early fur trappers, traders, and U.S. Military expeditions. Native Americans, particularly the Shoshone, used this trail to reach the hot springs in present-day Thermopolis. William Ashley, "general" of the fur trade, floated a valuable cargo of pelts through the Canyon in 1825 on his way back to St. Louis. The Canyon was also a well known escape route for Native American warriors in the late 1800s. Wind River Canyon is sacred to contemporary Native American tribes in the region.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.

Location. 43° 24.665′ N, 108° 10.472′ W. Marker is near Shoshoni, Wyoming, in Fremont County. It is on U.S. 20 0.4 miles north of Brannon Road, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at a pullout on the west side of US 20 overlooking Boysen Reservoir. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shoshoni WY 82649, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

2. Wind River Canyon Marker

this marker is in Wind River Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: “Wild Sheep and Wild Fire” (here, next to this marker); Boysen Dam and Reservoir Today (a few steps from this marker); Geology of the Wind River Canyon (a few steps from this marker); Site of Original Boysen Dam (approx. 2.1 miles away); Boysen's Historic Dam (approx. 2.2 miles away); Wedding of the Waters (approx. 12.4 miles away); a different marker also named Wedding of the Waters (approx. 12½ miles away); Shoshoni (approx. 12.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shoshoni.

Wind River Canyon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

3. Wind River Canyon

Photographed by Google Maps

4. Wind River Canyon Marker

Overlooking Boysen Reservoir

Wind River Canyon and Owl Creek Mountains image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 31, 2010

5. Wind River Canyon and Owl Creek Mountains

View to north

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 31, 2010

6. Wind River Canyon and Owl Creek Mountains

View to south

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,348 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 6, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 6, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.