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Visit to Hastings Cutoff 2020

Trail ruts can be seen in the dirt, leading through a desert setting.
The vicinity of Timpie Point west of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Photo/NPS

State chapters of the Oregon-California Trails Association often lead field trips along the trails. Recently, fall of 2020, the Crossroads Chapter of Utah led a group along the Hastings Cutoff -- the route followed by the Donner-Reed Party--west of Salt Lake City.

A few medium sized white rocks.
The white rock shows some red markings that are thought to be iron from the rims of wagon wheels that passed over it.

Photo/NPS

A path runs next to a channelized river in a stark landscape.
The Jordan River in the Salt Lake Valley.

Photo/NPS

Today the Jordan River in the Salt Lake Valley is channelized, but in 1846 when the Donner-Reed Party passed through, it was a two-mile-wide corridor of channels and marshes. This is the location where they were able to find a way across the stream and through the wetlands.

A woman stands next to a trail marker post.
This trail marker tells the story of the Donner-Reed party crossing the Jordan River.

Photo/NPS

Looking out across a wetland area with distant desert mountains.
Horseshoe Springs, managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Photo/NPS

Horseshoe Springs was a watering and camping area in Skull Valley for travelers on the Hastings Cutoff. Today the springs are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Original wagon trace is still visible heading south from the springs toward Hope Wells.

An iron trail marker stands next to a desert area with trail traces.

Photo/NPS

A view looking out over a desert landscape with a long dirt road cutting through it.

Photo/NPS

Here the scar of the Hastings Cutoff is approaching Hope Wells from Horseshoe Springs. This section of trail was later adopted as the route of the Lincoln Highway, the first automobile road across America (dedicated 1913).

People stand looking at a large shrub in a desert setting.

Photo/NPS

This is Hope Wells, where the Donner-Reed Party found a note left for them by Lansford Hasting. The note had been torn up by birds, but the emigrants collected the scraps and pieced it together. It warned of the dangerous 8-mile crossing of the Great Salt Lake Desert ahead "2 days -- 2 nights -- hard driving -- cross-- desert -- reach water." There would be only one more waterhole--a muddy, salty seep called Redlum Springs that some oxen refused to drink from--until the emigrants reached the other side of the salt flats.

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California National Historic Trail

Last updated: January 26, 2021