Near Burlington in Big Horn County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Shortcut to the Goldfields

Bridger Trail - 1864

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

1. Shortcut to the Goldfields Marker

Inscription.
This region is totally unfit for either rail or wagon roads and can only be traversed with the greatest of difficulty. - U.S. Army Lieutenant Henry Mayandier, while attempting to map a wagon route across the Big Horn Basin in 1860
You are standing near the Bridger Trail which is visible as you look towards Bridger Butte to the north. The Devil’s Backbone, the roughest descent on the trail, is situated at the northern edge of the plain as the trail drops down into the Whistle Creek Valley.

With the discovery of gold in western Montana in 1862, it became apparent that a direct route had to be opened from the east to allow freight and emigrants to reach the booming goldfield communities. In the spring of 1864, Jim Bridger guided 62 wagons from Fort Caspar through the Bighorn Basin to Virginia City avoiding the “Bloody Bozeman” trail, which crossed tribal lands east of the Bighorn Mountains. Approximately 2,500 people in 10 wagon trains traveled the trail during 1864, with Bridger guiding a second wagon train over the 510-mile route in the fall.

After 1864, the route known as the Bridger Trail

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was only used occasionally due to the lack of water and grass. But the ruts and the man for whom it was named are indelible marks on the pages of frontier history.

Erected by Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 44° 27.514′ N, 108° 31.61′ W. Marker is near Burlington, Wyoming, in Big Horn County. It is on Greybull Hwy (U.S. 20 / 16), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Burlington WY 82411, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: McCullough Peaks Wild Horses (a few steps from this marker).

More about this marker. A map of the Bridger Trail in Wyoming and Montana appears at

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

2. Shortcut to the Goldfields Marker

the upper left of the marker.

Western Wyoming Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

3. Western Wyoming Markers

Two markers can be found at this location. The Shortcut to the Goldfields marker is seen here on the left.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

4. Shortcut to the Goldfields Marker

Map of the Bridger Trail in Wyoming and Montana image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

5. Map of the Bridger Trail in Wyoming and Montana

View from the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

6. View from the Marker

The Bridger Trail is located near the Bridger Butte seen on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 755 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 9, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.