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Mormon Trail Map - Path of the Mormon Pioneer Trail

Mormon Trail Map Information

The Mormon Trail or the Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300-mile route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints traveled from 1846 to 1868. Today the Mormon Trail is part of the U.S. National Trails System, called the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail.

The Mormon Trail starts from Nauvoo, Illinois, which was the major settlement of the Latter-Day Saints from about 1839 to 1846, to Utah's Salt Lake City, which was settled by their leader Brigham Young and his followers beginning in 1847. From Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Fort Bridger in the state of Wyoming, the Mormon Trail follows much the same route(s) as the Oregon Trail and the California Trail; these two trails are collectively known as the Emigrant Trail.

The Mormon pioneer movement began in 1846 when, in the face of angry conflicts with neighbors, Brigham Young decided to leave and abandon Nauvoo and to re-establish a new home for the church in the Great Basin area. That year Young's followers crossed the state of Iowa. Along the way, some were assigned to establish smaller node settlements and to plant and harvest crops for later emigrants following. During the winter of 1846–47, the emigrants wintered in Iowa and other nearby states and the unorganized state territory that later became Nebraska, with the largest group staying in Winter Quarters, Nebraska. In the spring of 1847, Young led the followers to the Salt Lake Valley, which was then outside the boundaries of the United States and later became the state of Utah. During the first few years, the emigrants were mostly former occupants of the settlement of Nauvoo who were following Young's path to Utah. Later, the emigrants increasingly comprised of converts from the far-off British Isles and Europe.

Once the Mormon settlers crossed the Missouri River, they entered the plains Indian territories and left the safety of the United States. At the beginning, most plains tribes did not have a problem with a few settlers passing through their lands. However, the many years of settlers moving through their native lands caused conflict. Many became hostile, and this is one of the reasons why the Mormon Trail dips north and south a lot and has alternate routes. If they could avoid any conflict with hostile Indians, they would travel the extra miles. In what is now Nebraska, Mormon Pioneers had to pass through many native tribal lands of the Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee, Lakota Sioux, Arapaho, and Cheyenne. Most of the Indian treaties that were signed were not until the 1870s, so any conflicts had to be settled without U.S. local laws. The travel through the Indian territories was mixed since the plains region was still not part of the United States and was not widely settled. Some of the friendlier tribes set up trading posts near the many settlements and forts along the trail to trade with the pioneers. However, the Mormon Pioneers and Oregon Trail travelers were still running the gauntlet from fort to fort until they got out of this territory to their destinations. Any tension or run-ins with local Indians made the trip that much more dangerous. This is why there are so many large enclosed forts built along the trail. These include Fort Kearney in Nebraska, Fort Laramie in Wyoming, Fort Casper in Wyoming, and Fort Bridger in Wyoming. Most of these forts were established around the 1840s to protect the many pioneers. Many unlucky pioneers that encountered angry warrior scouts between forts had to barter their passage by trading flour, bacon, and other items valuable to the Indians.

The Mormon Trail landmarks and stops used to gauge progress across the trail include: Sugar Creek, Richardson's Point, Chariton River Crossing, Locust Creek, Garden Grove, Mount Pisgah, Nishnabotna River Crossing, Grand Encampment, Kanesville, Winter Quarters, Elkhorn River, Platte River, Loup Fork, Fort Kearny, Confluence Point, Ash Hollow, Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, Fort Laramie, Upper Platte/Mormon Ferry, Red Butte, Sweetwater River, Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Martin's Cove, Rocky Ridge, Rock Creek, South Pass, Green River/Lombard Ferry, Fort Bridger, Bear River, The Needles, Echo Canyon, Big Mountain, Golden Pass Road, Emigration Canyon, and Salt Lake Valley.

The Mormon Trail landmarks and stops used to gauge progress across the trail include the following:




Mormon Handcarts: Construction, Use, and Challenges

The handcarts used by Mormon pioneers were handmade by the travelers themselves or at outfitting stations along the trail, such as those in Iowa City, Iowa. These handcarts were human-powered, as many of the pioneers could not afford oxen or wagons. The design was simple but effective: they were essentially two-wheeled carts with wooden frames, resembling large wheelbarrows.

Construction

The carts were constructed with wooden wheels, axles, and shafts. The wheels were iron-rimmed for durability, while the rest of the cart was built from readily available materials like pine or oak. Each cart typically had a wooden box mounted between the wheels to hold belongings. Pioneers often had to make repairs along the trail due to the rugged conditions.

Human Power and Balance

Handcarts were designed to be pulled by humans, and usually, two to four people would share the load of pulling the cart. The handcarts had handles at the front for pulling and often a rear handle for pushing, making them balanced enough for the pioneers to manage. However, the carts were not particularly easy to pull, especially on rough terrain or during bad weather. The carts could be difficult to maneuver over rocky ground, up hills, or through mud.

Load Capacity

The average handcart was designed to carry about 500 pounds of goods, including food, clothing, tents, and personal items. However, many pioneers were forced to carry less to lighten the load, as pulling a fully loaded cart for hundreds of miles was extremely demanding. Each family or small group shared a cart, and most items had to be rationed and carefully packed to avoid overburdening the cart.

Challenges and Hardships

Although the handcarts were a cost-effective solution for many Mormon pioneers, they presented significant challenges. Fatigue was common, as the pioneers often walked an average of 10 to 20 miles per day while pulling the carts. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, and heat made the journey even more difficult. Additionally, handcarts were prone to breaking, and pioneers had to stop frequently to make repairs using whatever materials they could find along the trail.

Despite these hardships, the handcart pioneers were known for their perseverance and determination. They were able to cover great distances with limited resources, helping to pave the way for future westward migrations.



Early Mormon Settlements After Reaching Salt Lake City

When the Mormon pioneers first reached the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, under the leadership of Brigham Young, they initially stayed close to the area around the present-day site of the Salt Lake Temple. This area was designated as the center of their new community, where they began constructing the Salt Lake Temple and organizing the layout of the city. However, the settlers did not stay confined to this central location for long.

Expansion and Settling the Surrounding Areas

Very quickly, the Mormon pioneers began to fan out across the valley and beyond. Settlements extended to the north and south of the Salt Lake Valley, as well as into other valleys and regions of the present-day state of Utah. The pioneers sought fertile land, water resources, and areas where they could create self-sufficient agricultural communities. These early settlements were generally referred to as "colonies" or "outposts", since they were not yet fully developed towns or cities.

Early Settlements

Some of the earliest settlements outside of Salt Lake City included:

Control and Leadership of the Settlements

The settlements were largely controlled and directed by the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), particularly Brigham Young, who acted as both the spiritual and political leader of the Mormon community. The Church organized and oversaw the settlement of new areas through a centralized, theocratic government. Brigham Young and the LDS Church leadership would designate settlers for specific missions or locations, focusing on agriculture, mining, or other industries that would support the community's growth and self-sufficiency.

Each settlement was governed by local Church leaders who reported back to Brigham Young and the Church hierarchy in Salt Lake City. The settlements were designed with a grid system, centering around communal spaces like meetinghouses, and they followed a cooperative, community-driven model where resources and labor were often shared.

Trouble with the U.S. Government

Relations between the Mormon settlers and the U.S. government were tense, particularly in the 1850s. The Utah Territory was officially created in 1850, with Brigham Young appointed as the first territorial governor. However, due to concerns over the Church’s control of both religious and political matters in the region, tensions escalated into what became known as the Utah War (1857-1858).

President James Buchanan, fearing that the Mormons were defying federal authority, sent the U.S. Army to Utah in 1857. This conflict did not result in large-scale fighting, but it did lead to the temporary evacuation of Salt Lake City by Mormon settlers in preparation for potential conflict. The so-called Utah Expedition ended with negotiations, and federal troops were stationed in the area, though Brigham Young remained a dominant figure in Utah.

Despite this early tension, the Mormons continued to settle areas throughout the Utah Territory, which later expanded into regions of present-day Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Wyoming. Many of these settlements remained isolated, self-sufficient, and under the strong influence of the LDS Church well into the late 19th century.



Signs and Remains Along the Mormon Trail

Many of the landmarks along the Mormon Trail feature signs, remains, and historical markers that preserve the memory of the pioneers' journey. Some of the most notable landmarks with visible remains include:

Many of these landmarks along the Mormon Trail still have visible wagon ruts, inscriptions, and preserved sites that allow visitors to connect with the past. National and state parks, along with historical societies, protect these landmarks, making them accessible to modern travelers.



Trail Facts



Other trail maps:

Appalachian Trail Map
Pony Express Trail Map
Juan Bautista Trail Map
Lewis and Clark Trail Map
Iditarod Trails
Oregon Trail Map and Way Points
Eastern Sierra Hiking Trails
Santa Cruz Island Sea Caves Trail
Hetch Hetchy Pipe Route


Data source NPS.

Map Copyright CCCARTO 2024