Coming down the mountainside and into the valley, this historical marker is located at a small pull-off with a great view of the road ahead and the valley itself.
The marker reads, "Hudspeth's Cutoff. In the summer of 1849, the California GOld Rush was diverted this way in search of a more direct route to the mines. Stampeding 49'ers would try anything to save miles and time in their rush for California gold: the regular Oregon and California trails looped north of here to Fort Hall, but on July 19, 1849, Benoni M. Hudspeth led a party west from Soda Springs through rough country hoping for a more direct route through a gap 1.4 miles south of here. This immediately became the main road, though it saved far less than Hudspeth thought."
I did not follow the same route as the 49ers as I'm leaving California. Maybe next time I will try to recreate some of their route in the van. Minus the dysentery and Indian raids, of course.
[Review 17808 overall - 75 in Idaho - 1329 of 2022.] read more