ITINERARY IV.
V.--From Leavenworth City to Great Salt Lake City.
Illustration: Chimney Rock.
Miles.
Leavenworth City to
3. Salt Creek.-Good camp; wood, water, and grass.
12. Cold Spring.-To the right of the road, in a deep ravine,
plenty of wood, water, and grass.
12. Small Branch.-To the north of the road, in an arroya,
good wood, water, and grass. Here enters the road from
Atcheson, 6 miles distant.
16 2/3. Grasshopper Creek.-Good wood, water, and grass.
9 1/2. Walnut Creek.-Road passes a town called Whitehead, 4
miles from last camp. Water in pools, but 3/4 of a mile
below is a fine spring; plenty of wood, water, and
grass.
17. Grasshopper Creek.-Good camp, with wood, water, and
grass.
12 1/2. Big Nemehaw, two miles above Richland.-Good wood, water,
and grass near the creek.
11. Water-holes.--On the ridge, at the head of a ravine, are
wood, water, and grass, but in a dry time there would
be but little water.
10 3/4. Vermilion Creek.-Water in the creek not good, but there
is a good well of cold water near the road. Wood and
grass good.
21 1/2. Big Blue River.-Upper crossing, good ford; plenty of
wood, water, and grass. Fine clear stream, 60 yards
wide.
17 1/2. Branch of the Big Blue.-Camp half a mile north of the
road; good wood, water, and grass.
15. Turkey, or Rock Creek.-Good spring 400 yards to the
north of the road. Store at the crossing. Good wood,
water, and grass.
19. Big Sandy.-Wood, water, and grass good.
19. Little Blue River.-Road runs across the hills without
water until reaching camp. Good wood, water, and
grass.
18 3/4. Little Blue River.-Camp is at the point where the road
turns off from the creek. Good camps may be found any
where on the Little Blue, with excellent wood, water,
and grass. Fine running stream.
15. Little Blue River.-Road strikes the creek again, and
keeps it to the camp. Good wood, water, and grass.
19. Elm Creek.-Road leaves the Little Blue, and runs along a
divide to the head of Elm Creek, where we found water
in holes, with some few trees; grass good.
20. Platte River.-Road crosses one small branch, where there
is water except in a dry season. Good camp on the
Platte, with wood, water, and grass.
15. Fort Kearney.--Good camp about two miles from the fort,
upon the Platte, either above or below; grass, wood,
and water abundant.
17. Platte River.-Road runs along the river, where there is
plenty of grass, and occasionally a few cottonwood-
trees. Here the buffalo generally begin to be seen,
and the traveler can always get a plenty of buffalo-
chips along in this section.
16 3/4. On Plum Creek.-Road runs along the Platte to Plum Creek,
where there is a little wood, with good grass and
water. Mail station at the crossing of Plum Creek.
22 1/3. On Platte River.-Road runs along the Platte bottom after
crossing Plum Creek, and is good except in wet
weather. The road occasionally comes near the Platte,
and, although the timber becomes thin, yet places are
found where fuel can be obtained. Grass is plenty at
all points.
23. On Platte River.-Road continues along the river valley
over a flat country where the water stands in ponds,
and is boggy in wet weather. Camps occasionally on the
river, but little fuel. Grass and water good.
14. On Platte River.-Road continues along the valley, with
the same character as before, but more timber. Camp
opposite Brady's Island. Plenty of wood, water, and
grass.
17 1/4. Slough.--On the Prairie. Road runs from one to three
miles from the river. No wood all day; plenty of
grass, and buffalo-chips for cooking.
15 1/4. Platte River.-Road crosses O'Fallon's Bluffs, where
there is a good camping-place on the right of the
road. Plenty of wood, water, and grass on a small
stream, which is part of the Platte. Mail station
here.
16 1/2. South Platte River.-Road runs along the Platte, with no
timber. Good grass and water at any point, with
buffalo-chips for fuel.
17. South Platte River.-No timber all day. Good water and
grass at all points, with buffalo-chips.
8. South Platte Crossing.-No wood all day. Good water and
grass, with buffalo-chips. The river is about 600
yards wide, rapid, with quicksand bottom, but can be
forded when not above a medium stage. It is best to
send a footman ahead to ascertain the depth of water
before crossing the wagons and animals.
19. Ash Hollow, at North Platte River.-Road leaves the South
Fork of the Platte, and strikes over the high prairie
for 16 miles, when it descends the high bluffs
bordering the valley of the North Platte, and enters
Ash Hollow, where there is a plenty of wood and a
small spring of water. Half a mile beyond this the
road reaches the river. Mail station and a small
grocery here.
16. North Platte.-Very sandy road; no wood; grass and water
plenty at all points; buffalo-chips sufficient for
cooking.
17. North Platte.-Road sandy in places; no wood; good grass
and water; some buffalo-chips.
16 1/2. North Platte.-Road good; no wood; good grass and water;
cattle-chips in places.
18 3/4. North Platte.-No wood. Camp opposite "Chimney Rock,"
which is a very peculiar formation on the south of the
road, and resembles a chimney. Grass good. Road muddy
after rains.
17 1/2. North Platte.-No wood; grass and water good.
16. "Horse Creek," branch of the North Platte.-In seven
miles the road passes through Scott's Bluffs, where
there is generally water in the first ravine about 200
yards below the road. The road then descends the
mountain, at the foot of which is the Platte and
a mail station. A little wood can be obtained at
Scott's Bluffs; there is none on Horse Creek.
14 1/4. North Platte.-Road follows the river bottom all day
Wood, water, and grass on the river.
12. Fort Laramie.-Road rough and rocky in places. There are
wood and water plenty, and before many trains have
passed the grass is good above the fort. Mail station
and post-office here, with a sutler's store well
stocked with such articles as the traveler wants.
10. North Platte.-Road good, but hilly in places. Camp is in
the river bottom, with plenty of wood, water, and
grass. Hot spring two miles above here.
14. Bitter Creek.-There are two roads, both of which lead to
Salt Lake. The upper or south road is best in the
spring or in wet weather. I traveled the lower road.
Wood, water, and grass are good.
17 3/4. Horse-shoe Creek.-Fine camp, with excellent wood, water,
and grass. The road here forks, one passing to the
left over the hills, and the other running nearer the
Platte.
20 1/2. North Platte River.-Good road along near the river. Good
wood, water, and grass. Road crosses the river at 12
1/2 miles.
20 1/4. North Platte River.-Road crosses the river again, and
the camp is two miles above the mouth of La Prell
Creek. Good wood, water, and grass.
19. North Platte River.-Road runs along the river, and is
smooth and good. The camp is two miles above the
crossing of Deer Creek, where there is a blacksmith's
shop and store. Good grass, wood, and water.
16. North Platte River.-Good road, with wood, water, and
grass at camp.
13. North Platte River.-Good road passing the bridge, where
there is a blacksmith's shop and store, also a
military station and a mail station. At two miles from
camp the road crosses the river on a good ford with
rocky bottom. The wood, water, and grass are abundant.
23. Red Buttes, on the North Platte.-Road is very hilly, and
in some places sandy; passes Willow Spring, where
there is grass and a little wood. Good wood, water,
and grass at camp. Mail station here.
11. Sweet Water Creek.-Road leaves the river at the Red
Buttes, and strikes over the high rolling prairie.
Good grass and water, but little wood at camp.
15. On Sweet Water Creek.-Road passes a blacksmith's shop
and store at the bridge six miles from camp, and at 2
1/2 miles from the camp it passes the "Devil's Gate"
and a mail station. The Sweet Water here runs between
two perpendicular cliffs, presenting a most singular
and striking appearance. Take wood at the Gate for
camp. Good grass and water at all places on Sweet
Water Creek.
Illustration: Devil's Gate.
20. Sweet Water Creek.-Road muddy after rains, and some bad
ravines to cross. Wood, water, and grass of the best
quality at camp.
12. Sweet Water Creek.-Road runs along the valley of the
Sweet Water, where there is plenty of wood and grass
in places, but little wood at the camp noted.
8. On Sweet Water.-Road good; no wood; grass abundant.
20. On Sweet Water.-Road good; no wood.
17. Strawberry Creek.-Little wood; grass and water abundant.
Road leaves " Sweet Water, " and ascends a very long
hill which is very rocky.
20 1/4. South Pass.-Road crosses the dividing ridge, and strikes
the Pacific Spring, where there is excellent water and
good grass if many cattle have not passed, in which
event the traveler had better continue on down the
creek which issues from the spring. Sage for fuel; no
wood.
15 3/4. Dry Sandy Creek.-Grass scarce; no wood; some sage and
greasewood; water brackish, but drinkable; road good.
Here the traveler should send ahead and have the best
spots of grass found, as it is very scarce throughout
this section. Sublett's Cut-off turns off here for
Soda Springs and Fort Hall. Take the left for Fort
Bridger and Salt Lake City.
18. Little Sandy Creek.-Grass in spots along the creek
bottom, and some fuel.
18. Big Sandy Creek.-Grass in detached spots on the creek,
and little fuel.
21 1/2. Green River, Upper Ford.-Grass and fuel on the river.
7. Green River, at the Lower Ford.-Good grass and fuel
below the ford. Ferry in time of high water. Mail
station and grocery.
16. Black's Fork.-Good grass and fuel.
7. Ham's Fork.-United States bridge, no toll. Good grass
and fuel.
12. Black's Fork.-Road forks at the crossing of Black's
Fork, both roads leading to Fort Bridger. This
itinerary is upon the left-hand road, which crosses
Black's Fork two miles from Ham's Fork.
13. Smith's Fork.-Good camps along Black's Fork at any
place, but the road leaves the stream for several
miles. Wood, water, and grass at the confluence of
Black's and Smith's Forks.
18 1/4. Fort Bridger-Good camps above and below the fort.
Military post, mail station, and store.
Muddy Creek.-Good grass, wood, and water. Grass short
after many trains have passed. It is then necessary to
go up the creek to find good grass. Road passes a fine
spring 3 miles back.
19. Bear River.-Good camps, with wood, water, and grass.
Good ford, except in very high water. Sulphur Creek
two miles back.
l9. Red Fork.-In "Echo Canon," two miles below Cashe Cave,
good grass and fuel; water plenty.
19 1/4. Weber River.-Good grass, wood, and water. Mail station.
United States bridge for high water; no toll.
5 1/4. Spring Branch.-Good camp. Road leaves the river and
takes the left into a valley.
9. Bauchmin's Creek.-Road crosses over a mountain, and
descends to the creek, where there is a good camp.
14. Big Canon Creek.-Road crosses Bauchmin's Creek 13 times
in 8 miles, then ascends the mountain along a small
creek, which is well wooded and good grass.
6. Emigration Creek.-Road leaves Canon Creek, and crosses
the two mountains, which are very steep and long.
Grass and wood before crossing the "Little Mountain."
10 1/4. Great Salt Lake City.-Forage can be purchased here, as
well as most of the articles the traveler may require,
at high prices. There is no camping-place within two
miles of the city. It is best for those who encamp
with animals to cross the Jordan River, or to stop
near the mouth of the canon before entering the city.
Total distance from Fort Leavenworth to Salt Lake City, 1168
miles.
   
|