Bridger Trail - 1864

      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 1860You 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 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.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Burlington, WY  |  Big Horn County  |  82411  |  Wyoming  |  United States of America

McCullough Peaks Wild Horses
Sidon Canal
Byron Sessions
Eagle's Nest Stage Station
"Corbett's Shebang" at Sinking Water Crossing
Arland
Site of Halfway House Stage Stop
M.P. Station, Guard Tower, Rail & Train Station
Agriculture and Root Cellars
Swimming Hole:

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.