Elevation 2400
Milepost 335.76
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The Oregon Trail is the best known of all the many historic routes used by Americans in the settlement of the West. Stretching for more than 1,900 miles from Missouri to the Willamette Valley, the trail spanned more than half the continent. After the passage of thousands of covered wagon emigrants, the Oregon Trail route was later followed by the transcontinental railroads. Today it is paralleled by the present modern Interstate highway.
After leaving the Snake River at Farwell Bend, the emigrants traversed a divide and then descended into the Burnt River drainage near present-day Huntington. The river was followed through the canyon to the site of modern Durkee where it continued to the northwest across a divide into Baker Valley.
The road so far from Fort Hall had not been very bad, and being generally down hill we made good travel. On entering Burn-river Canyon, however, it meandered a good deal, and often followed the bed of the stream to avoid the labor of cutting the dense thicket. It was also steep climbing to get out at the head of the canyon.
--John Minto, emigrant of 1844
Thursday, August 23d. Prepare to move camp, find three of our good horses gone. After looking for and tracking them some distance over almost impassible hills, come to the conclusion that they were driven off by the Indians who are all gone this morning. All are sad enough. Rose four and one-half hours, twelve miles; encamp on Burn River; rode over long, long hills; crossed five creeks.
--Myra F. Eells, emigrant of 1838
Tuesday, Oct. 8…Our road was even worse than yesterday and we ascended the steepest hil I ever say teams cross. We had to double teams, and hard work at that. We crossed the creek a great many times and finally took a north fork and followed it out to the head, crossed a low gap in the ridge and struck a leading hollow and soon found grass and water sufficient to take us to Walley Walley, but our oxen are getting very weak and many have already given out. Pleasant this afternoon except a little too much wind and smoke.
--Edward E. Parrish, emigrant of 1844