Last updated: March 14, 2025
Place
Register Cliff Historic Site
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Vicinity of Guernsey, Wyoming
Significance:
Soft, chalky limestone rock made it easy for emigrants to inscribe their names into the cliff
Designation:
Wyoming State Historic Site
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
4 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Picnic Table, Restroom, Trailhead
Following a day's journey from Fort Laramie, emigrants spent the night at Register Cliff, which rises one hundred feet above the North Platte River valley. The soft, chalky limestone rock made it easy for emigrants to inscribe their names into the cliff before continuing on their journey. The earliest signatures date to the late 1820s when trappers and fur traders passed through the area. Most of the names visible today were carved during the 1840s and 1850s, when the Oregon Trail was at its height.
Site Information
Location (vicinity of Guernsey, Wyoming)
Today, visitors can walk along the cliff base to view the signatures up close. The cliff is defaced with modern graffiti, but the historical inscriptions at the east end (left end as you face the cliff) are protected by a tall wire fence. The historic site also contains a pioneer cemetery with several graves.
More Site Information
National Historic Trail sites near Guernsey, Wyoming
Oregon National Historic Trail
California National Historic Trail
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
Pony Express National Historic Trail
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- Duration:
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Guernsey, Wyoming, is a small town situated along the North Platte River and the Great Platte River Road, a significant historic route followed by travelers on the Oregon, California, Pony Express, and Mormon Pioneer national historic trails. Visitors have the opportunity to explore several notable trail related sites in the area, including Oregon Trail Ruts State Park, Register Cliff State Park, and Guernsey State Park, each showcasing the remnants and legacy of westward expansion.