Through the windshield—Chimney Rock from about 30 miles away
The Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, and California Trail following the North Platte River from the Missouri River passed by one of the most famous landmarks along the Trail: Chimney Rock. Some half million westbound emigrants used it as a beacon during the three to four days it was in view, signaling to them that the second phase of their long journey west—the difficult mountain passage—was about to begin.
Hundreds wrote in their journals their impressions: Passed the chimney in the fore part of the day and the formation… has a tendency to fill the mind with awe and grandeur. Virgil K. Pringle, June 19, 1846.
Chimney Rock towers about 500 feet above the North Platte River. Because the spectacular tower marked a good camping spot with a dependable spring, many of the pioneers stopped nearby, described it with drawings, and carved their names in its base. Later it became the setting for the Pony Express, the telegraph, and a stage station.
Sunrise on the North Platte Valley
An old Mormon cemetery rests at the base of Chimney Rock.
An old Mormon cemetery restsat the base of Chimney Rock.
Mary lived for 74 years on two continents, but did not live to see Zion (Utah).
The Mormon Trail, though side by side with the other Trails, was always separate, because the Mormons kept to themselves for fear of acts of violence against them.
At 6:48 a.m.,the first rays of dawn light up Chimney Rock.
As the new day begins, the Rock welcomes the hosts of emigrants
passing that day headed for
the beautiful, but rugged mountains of Wyoming.
Chimney Rock at Sunset
The 800 foot high Scotts Bluff is 35 miles west of Chimney Rock along the Oregon Trail.
Originally, the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails circumvented the rugged badlands surrounding Scotts Bluff until the Army improved the Trail through Mitchell Pass in 1850. The Pass is just south of the Scotts Bluff and it shortened the wagon train’s journey by a day.
Sunset over Scotts Bluff
