“telling the story of wagon trains heading west”
Oregon Trail Ruts is a preserved site of wagon ruts of the Oregon Trail on the North Platte River, about .5 miles south ofGuernsey, Wyoming. The Oregon Trail here was winding up towards South Pass. Wagon wheels, draft animals, and people wore down the trail about two to six feet into a sandstone ridge here, during its heavy usage from 1841-1869. The half-mile stretch is "unsurpassed" and is the best-preserved set of Oregon Trail ruts anywhere along its former length. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The site is maintained as a State Historic Site within Guernsey State Park, which separately was declared a National Historic Landmark for its Civilian Conservation Corps structures, unrelated to the Oregon Trail Ruts.
I grew up playing "Oregon Trail" which is kind of silly to say now, but I was super excited to see the ruts. It's awesome to see one place where so many (all?) of the wagons passed through. To look at the terrain with utmost respect for these people, because that's a whole lot of bumping around and walking on uneven paths. I also enjoyed climbing a bit on the rocky overlook beside there ruts. Very cool that we still have this historical place.
Awesome to see and walk in the rock trail carved by the wagons
A histroical stop that is definitely worth it! It's pretty crazy to walk the path so many people traveled over, and you really can see it! Don't make the mistake we did and did not follow the paved path all the way around, we were short on time and just looked around right at the top where you see thr first ruts.
Very cool spot with beautiful paved walking trail. Multiple trails in the area as well.
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Oregon Trail Ruts
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