Near Mountain Home in Elmore County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Site 6 ★ Kelton Road
Main Oregon Trail Back County Byway
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 16, 2018
1. Site 6 ★ Kelton Road Marker
Map of the Main Oregon Trail Back County Byway across the top.
After the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, several freight roads were established between the railroad and Idaho. The Kelton Road was the most popular of the freight roads, which developed across southern Idaho. It followed parts of the Salt Lake Alternate, North Alternate Oregon Trail and the Main Oregon Trail from Kelton, Utah to Boise. In several places it diverted away from these routes to use shorter or smoother routes.
The Kelton Road separated fro, the Oregon Trail a short distance to the southeast as the Oregon Trail route was very rocky east of Canyon Creek. The desert is littered with volcanic rocks for several miles along the Oregon Trail. The emigrants bounced across these stones and remarked how rough the road was in their diaries.
Erected by Bureau of Land Management; Oregon-California Trails Association, Idaho Chapter. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles
this page online
Location. 43° 15.054′ N, 115° 38.106′ W. Marker is near Mountain Home, Idaho, in Elmore County. Marker is at the intersection of Immigrant Road and Canyon Creek Road, on the right when traveling west on Immigrant Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mountain Home ID 83647, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Toll Gate (approx. 2.8 miles away); Site 7 ★ Canyon Creek (approx. 3˝ miles away); Canyon Creek Station (approx. 3˝ miles away); Oregon Trail 1864 (approx. 5.4 miles away); Site 5 ★ Rattlesnake Creek (approx. 7.2 miles away); Rattlesnake Station (approx. 7.2 miles away); Mountain Home Irrigation District (approx. 8 miles away); Mountain Home Arrives in a 50-pound Soapbox (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain Home.
More about this marker. Should anyone wish to follow this portion of the Oregon Trail, I suggest they obtain a copy of the Main Oregon Trail Back Country Byway brochure by the BLM and OCTA. It is generally available at local visitors centers.
Map of
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 16, 2018
2. Site 6 ★ Kelton Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 394 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
