Hiking & Driving Tours in Sweetwater County

Highway 28 Historic Trails Driving Tour:
Travel on Highway 28 between the Green River (west of Farson) and the South Pass Rest Stop (east of Farson). Along this route there are six significant sites: South Pass Overlook, False Parting of the Ways, Big Sandy Crossing, Simpson’s Hollow, Pilot Butte Trail Site and Lombard Ferry.

Pilot Butte Trails Site
Approximately 12 miles west of Farson on Highway 28 lies this BLM Historic Interpretative site with signs about the Pilot Butte Trail(s) landmark, Indian-Emigrant relations and Transcontinental Telegraph. Signs are adjacent to trail ruts of the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express and California National Historic Trails.

Pony Express Route
The route runs from South Pass in Sublette County to Pacific Springs,
to Dry Sandy, to Little Sandy, to Big Sandy, and Farson, to Big Timber, Michael Morrins, to Hams Fork, to Church Buttes, to Millersville and to Fort Bridger.

Cherokee Trail
The trail runs from north of Baggs, Wyoming, to the old Emigrant Trail, east of U.S. 191. It crosses the Dans Creek and Little Bitter Creek south of Rock Springs, then Sage Creek (twice). It finally crosses the Green River just above the Blacks Fork River Confluence and to the Lone Tree Station. A high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicle and dry road conditions are needed for access.

Overland Trail
This old stagecoach route runs across Bridger Pass in Carbon County to Sulphur Springs, Washakie, Duck Lake, Dug Spring, Fort LeClede, Black Buttes, Point of Rocks, Salt Wells, Rock Springs, Green River, Lone Tree Station, Granger and on into Fort Bridger. Remnants of stage stations along the trail can be easily accessed at Point of Rocks (along I-80) and Granger (also along I-80). There
is a stage station marker in Rock Springs along Springs Drive and in Green River on Uinta Drive. A high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicle and dry road conditions are needed for access to most areas.

Old Emigrant Trail
Old Emigrant Trail: From Bridger Pass on the Overland Trail to Fort LeClede, turn southwest until it meets up with the Cherokee Trail on the Little Bitter Creek, then to Lone Tree Station follow the Overland Trail until Fort Bridger, then northwest through the Bridger Antelope Trap. A high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicle and dry road conditions are needed for access.

Outlaw Trail
The northern route of the Outlaw Trail ran right through the
middle of Sweetwater County—giving this area a strong outlaw history. Discover the hiding place for Frank and Jesse James, and follow the tails of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and the Wild Bunch.

Oregon & California Gold Rush Trails
Westward-bound families began crossing Wyoming in the
early 1840s. Headed for Oregon, their journey took them along barely visible tracks over South Pass, down the Green River, then up over the mountains of western Wyoming. By 1850, the trickle of travelers had turned into a flood of emigrants as tens of thousands headed west for Oregon, Utah and the gold fields of California.

To travel the Oregon Trail, begin your trip either at South Pass State Historic Park or Fort Bridger State Historic Park. From South Pass, travel along Wyoming Highway 28 to Farson. From Farson, continue along Highway 28 toward the Green River, then follow Wyoming 372 south to I-80. Take I-80 west to Fort Bridger. If traveling west along I-80, simply exit at Fort Bridger and pick up one of the National Park Service guide tours. Upon returning to I-80, travel east to the LaBarge exit, then travel north on Wyoming 372 to the intersection with Highway 28. At Highway 28 turn east and drive to South Pass.

Mormon Trail
1996 and 1997 marked the 150th anniversary of the initial Mormon exodus to Utah. The Mormons were a unique part of the Western emigrant migration. As the road is unpaved and can be very muddy when wet, check local conditions before your visit.