Stand on the vast, unsettled prairie and imagine yourself in a settlers shoes. Traveling the Oregon Trail in Wyoming will let you journey from landmark to landmark, learning from interpretive centers and giving you time to consider the challenges that face the people of the frontier.
Total Road Trip: Two to three days
Begin your journey at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. This fort was the first settlement that travelers of the Oregon Trail had seen in six weeks. With one third of their arduous journey behind them, and the Rocky Mountains ahead of them, many decided to stop or turn back. During the summer, visitors may be lucky enough to witness reenactments or meet a volunteer playing the character of a former resident. The bakery still produces bread for guests to sample.
A visit to Fort Laramie can take many hours. Plan to begin your visit first thing in the morning so you can stay overnight in Casper, or consider finding a nearby town to bunk for the night.
Culture and Commerce: Gear up for your trip by choosing a character - solidier, mountain man, Indian scout, or pioneer - at the Fort Laramie Frontier Trading Post.
From Fort Laramie, head up Highway 26 to Guernsey. Here, the Oregon Trail was forced away from the river and trail ruts made a permanent indentation in the rocky hill. Also near Guernsey is Register Cliff, where pioneers carved their names into a wall of rock.
Fort Laramie to Guernsey - about 15 miles - 20 minutes
From Guernsey, continue west on Highway 26 and then north on I-25 to Casper for a first-hand feel of emigrant travel at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Bump along in an ox-drawn wagon as you ford the North Platte River at its last crossing, or feel what it was like to pull a handcart. Also visit Fort Caspar to see a replica of a ferry used by emigrants to cross the river before the first bridge in this area was constructed.
Culture and Commerce: Small hobbies were essential for pioneers. Beading may have been one of them. While you're in Casper, stop by Dragonfly Beads to see beads of every size, kind and theme.
Guernsey to Casper - 111 miles - One hour and 25 minutes
From Casper take Highway 220 west in an hour-long drive to Independence Rock, the most noted landmark on the Oregon Trail. In this same area you can see Devil's Gate, Martin's Cove, Split Rock and "Three Crossings."
Go west on Highway 220, then Highway 789 until you can turn south on Highway 28 toward South Pass City. Know as "Wyoming's City of Gold," this tiny boom town has been faithfully maintained since its bust in the late 1800's. Check out the historic buildings and buy some penny candy at the Smith-Sherlock General Store.
Culture and Commerce: Just up the road from South Pass City is another gold mining town, Atlantic City. Stop and wet your whistle with one of the 70 single malt whiskey's available at the Two-bit Cowboy Saloon. If you're lucky enough to be there on the second Saturday of the month, enjoy the Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six and then stay the night at Miner's Delight Inn.
Casper to South Pass City - Approximately 150 miles - 2 hours to half a day
Continue following the trail to Fort Bridger by taking 28, then turning south on Highway 372, and then west on Interstate 80. Fort Bridger, an important trail supply point built “in the road of the emigrants” in 1843, was operated by mountain man Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez and later became a U.S. Army post. Today you can stock up on 19th-century goods at the recreated Fort Bridger Stockade and explore the military-era buildings.
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If you happen to be at Fort Bridger during the first weekend of September, be sure to set aside plenty of time for fun. The Fort Bridger Rendezvous is the second largest annual event in Wyoming. Thousands of mountain men, traders and Native American performers gather to compete, demonstrate and enjoy each other's company.
South Pass City to Fort Bridger - Approximately 200 miles - About three and a half hours
Thirsting for more?
Check here for a complete description of trail sites in Wyoming.