Muddy Creek Camp and Crossing - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

The marker is inscribed:
Muddy Creek Camp and Crossing The Muddy Creek Camp, which was northwest of this marker and on the west side of the Muddy Creek was used by Brigham Young's first group of Mormon pioneers who arrived here on July 9, 1847. Thomas Bullock reported that the brethren sang hymns for President Brigham Young, and they had a delightful evening. This camp had good water and plenty of grass, and the animals were well-fed by the tall bunch-grass growing along the creek. Erastus Snow described the campground as "very pretty."

It was one of the most heavily used camps on the Overland-Mormon-California-Pony Express Trails. Approximately 70,000 Mormon pioneers crossed, passed through, or camped at Muddy Creek Campground. The U.S. Army camped here with 2,000 men in June of 1858. Both the Martin and the Willie handcart companies crossed here in November of 1856 while traveling with rescue wagons. The Muddy Overland Stage Stop and Pony Express Station were located at this site, and foundation stones may still be seen along the west bank of Muddy Creek. The road by this marker was the original Transcontinental Railroad bed of 1869. The Transcontinental Telegraph, automobile road, and stageline either go through the campground or are very nearby, making Muddy Creek Camp an important park of this area's history.

Road of Trail Name: Mormon Pioneer Trail State: Wyoming County: Uinta Historical Significance: There was good water and plenty of grass, and the animals were well-fed by the tall bunch-grass growing along the creek. It was an ideal campsite, and a popular one. 70,000 Mormon pioneers crossed, passed through, or camped at Muddy Creek. In the summer of 1847, it was used by Brigham Young’s first group of Mormon pioneers. 2,000 men of the U.S. army camped here in June of 1858. The original Transcontinental Railroad bed passed through in 1869. The site even played host to the Muddy Overland Stage Stop and Pony Express Station. And you can still see the ghost town of Piedmont and its famed charcoal kilns, monuments to the Western Migration and its people. Years in use: 20 How you discovered it: I was looking for this specific marker to add to my collection of photographs of Daughters of Utah Pioneers historic markers. Why?: This was the principal trail used not only by the Mormon Pioneers, but also by emigrants headed to the California Gold Rush, to the lush farmlands of Oregon, and by the Pony Express. Directions: From Exit 24 (Leroy Exit) on Interstate 80 west of Fort Bridger, take County Road 173 (Piedmont Road) 3.4 miles south to the marker. The marker sits some distance off the road but can be easily spotted due to the white steel rails which surround it. There is also a pull-off area to park and a gravel path to the marker. Book on Wagon Road or Trial: Not listed Website Explination: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/20/2023 Tom.dog visited it 04/10/2023 Der_Holzmichel visited it 08/17/2021 drgw3128 visited it 10/18/2017 The_Simpsons visited it 07/04/2016 lobotomy visited it 10/04/2015 animjason visited it 08/08/2015 Khoda visited it 07/23/2012 MeanderingMonkeys visited it 06/02/2011 Mom the Cook & cashnhubby visited it

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