HISTORIC TRAILS See southwest Wyoming’s network of historic trails, where hopeful pioneers braved unsettled lands on their way toward a better life in the West. Just like the wooden wheels that carved the land, it’s easy to carve out a journey of your own. No other place in the United States has more miles of still-visible pioneer trails. OUTLAWS, PIONEERS & DINOS, OH MY! Learn more about the area’s historical sites, including a map of its storied pioneer trails and the best places to access them. Plus, get details on some of the museums’ incredible artifacts. OREGON TRAIL Easily one of the most famous pioneer trails in the United States, the Oregon Trail was a major thoroughfare that guided about 400,000 people across the expansive West from 1846 to 1869. The 2,200-mile route helped expand the California Gold Rush, and the stretch found here is one of the most intact today. PONY EXPRESS During the height of its service, the Pony Express route passed through the region and had a relay station near the Lombard Ferry. Mail carriers could ride a horse at full gallop, then switch mounts at the following station, effectively cutting mail-delivery times by 10 days. Pilot Butte Overlook CHEROKEE TRAIL Also known as the Trappers Trail, the Cherokee Trail was primarily used by cattlemen driving herds north and south, as well as droves of hopefuls seeking their fortunes in gold. The area’s economic growth and the settlement of the West owes much to this historic trail that ran from Oklahoma through Kansas and Colorado into Wyoming. OVERLAND TRAIL Famously traveled by the Overland Stage Company in the mid-1800s, the Overland Trail was used frequently as a mail route to Salt Lake City. It created an alternate route to Oregon and California, paving the way for significant development in those areas. Today, the Overland Trail is one of the region’s most accessible pioneer trails. Top Right: Jenissa Meredith Historic Trail Marker EXPLORE WY.COM 13
Sweetwater County Official Travel Guide 2025/2026: Page 13
