Camp Grant

The Mormon pioneers of 1847 camped here on the same worn ground the Donner party had cut a year earlier — and where that shortcut had ruined the emigrants, it served the Saints well. By the time Brigham Young's companies reached this camp, scouts had already crested Big Mountain and seen the valley; the hardest work was behind them. What the Donner-Reed party paid for in weeks of delay and death, the Mormons inherited as a finished road. They followed it down the last canyons and, on July 24, entered the valley they'd crossed a continent to reach.

What the plaque says

Sons of Utah Pioneers Camp Grant Here, August 18-20, 1846, the Donner-Reed Party (87 in party) camped while cutting a road over Little Mountain and down Emigration Canyon because they found (Parleys Canyon) too rugged. The journal of James Reed states, "Lay in camp in neat little valley, fine water, good grass, while all hands this day (August 19-20) are west side of small mountain clearing road to valley". Although the first company of Mormon Pioneers had to greatly improve this road for succeeding wagon trains, they acknowledge with gratitude, the work performed by the Donner Party, cutting this road over the Wasatch Range from Henefer to the Salt Lake Valley. This camp was later used by thousands. This camp is named after Jedediah M. Grant, whose company was the last one of 11 companies (approximately 2,095 pioneers) to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley by October 2, 1847, the last of that season. He was also first mayor of Salt Lake City, 1851 until his death 1856. This monument refurbished and dedicated September 5, 1984 by the Holladay and Potomac-Maryland Chapters, Sons of Utah Pioneers. Replaces the original plaque erected May 1958 by the "Mormon Explorers YMMIA". Site No. 6 Holladay and Potomac Chapters Sons of Utah Pioneers September 5, 1984

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Emigration Canyon — 3.7 mi
  The final stretch of trail the Mormon pioneers took into the valley
• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 5.5 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
• Natural History Museum of Utah — 6.0 mi
  A world-class museum built into the foothills above Salt Lake City
• Red Butte Garden — 6.2 mi
  A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views

More markers nearby

• Camp Grant Monument — steps away
• Little Mountain Summit — 1.1 mi
• Memories at Mountain Dell — 1.6 mi
• Ephraim Hank's Pony Express Station — 1.8 mi