Mountain Meadows Trail & Camp

In September 1857, as the U.S. Army marched on Utah amid war fever, a wagon train of Arkansas families bound for California camped in this high meadow. They were the Baker-Fancher party, some hundred and twenty men, women, and children. Local Mormon militiamen, some disguised as Paiutes and aided by recruited Paiutes, attacked and besieged them for five days. Then, under a white flag, the militia promised safe passage in exchange for their weapons. The emigrants surrendered and were led out. Then nearly all, everyone old enough to remember, were shot down. Only seventeen small children were spared.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Snow Canyon State Park — 19 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm — 25 mi
  Real dinosaur footprints preserved in ancient sandstone
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 28 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge

More markers nearby

• Mountain Meadow Memorial (5) Panels — 0.6 mi
• Hamblin Cemetery — 4.6 mi
• Enterprise Pioneer Park — 7.7 mi
• Wood for Pine Valley Chapel and Salt Lake Tabernacle Organ — 9.1 mi