The First Oregon Trail

The claim here is local tradition: that the first wagons bound for Oregon rolled along Bear Lake's southwestern shore, though early maps put the route farther north. What needs no argument is what happened at the lake's south end. In the summers of 1827 and 1828 the Rocky Mountain fur trade held its rendezvous there — a thousand or more trappers and Native people, so many campfires that one witness called it a lighted city, with Jedediah Smith riding in from the first overland round trip to California. Rendezvous Beach, near Laketown, keeps the name.

What the plaque says

The first covered wagons came into the Rocky Mts. in 1830, they made their way as far west as Fort Washakie in Wyoming. Efforts were made to find passable wagon trails through the Mountains to the Pacific Coast, which goal was finally reached. At that time, the entire northwest Mt. area was known as Oregon Country & western travel was either to the "Oregon" or the "California" regions. While early maps give the probable location of the first Oregon Trail north of here, well marked wagon ruts & stories of Indians & Settlers indicate that the first wagon migration to "Oregon" followed the Southwesterly shores of Bear Lake. Leaving this valley through a canyon to the Northwest, then to the upper reaches of the Bear River. Additional color is given this belief because this was the site of an important trappers' rendezvous as early as 1827, & well marked trails were followed for many years in & out of this valley.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Bear Lake Raspberry Shakes — 2.7 mi
  Legendary raspberry milkshakes from locally grown berries
• Bear Lake — 4.8 mi
  The Caribbean of the Rockies — a turquoise lake straddling the Utah-Idaho border
• Beaver Mountain Ski Area — 7.2 mi
  A family-owned ski hill that has been run by the same family since 1939
• Tony Grove Lake — 14 mi
  A glacial alpine lake at 8,100 feet surrounded by wildflower meadows

More markers nearby

• Fur Traders Rendezvous — 8.4 mi
• Temple Fork Sawmill — 14 mi
• Old Ephraim Bear — 16 mi
• Richmond Fort — 21 mi