What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
The Oregon Trail Corridor
The four national trails are Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, and Pony Express National Historic Trails. They offer hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities. Wyoming contains the middle span of the trail.
Length: 2,000 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and Boating
The Sweetwater arm of the Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge, located 46 miles away from the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California & Pony Express National Historic Trails Corridor, provides fish and boating opportunities. You will need to wear appropriate safety gear when boating because the water can be deep in some places.
Climbing
The Split Rock WSA offers an outstanding opportunity for an unconfined climbing experience with Split Rock and McIntosh Peak being popular destinations in the climbing community.
Wildlife Viewing and Hunting
In Sweetwater Rocks (Split Rock), hunting for pronghorn sheep is outstanding. Big-game species currently residing in the area include elk, antelope, and mule deer. Golden eagles, prairie falcons, and red-tailed falcons soar overhead. When wildlife viewing, do not get too close to the animals for your safety.
Picnicking
The Wild Horse Point Picnic Area, located 15 miles from the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California & Pony Express National Historic Trails Corridor, offers beautiful scenery in which to enjoy a meal. The area includes picnic tables, a vault toilet, garbage collection, cooking grills, and fire rings for your convenience and food preparation.
Interpretive Programs
A great cleft in the east end of the Sweetwater Rocks is Devil’s Gate Interpretive Site, which gives you details of the long and colorful history of the area. The site provides restrooms and trash collection and is ADA-accessible.
The Split Rock Interpretive Site is the dominant landmark of the Sweetwater Valley, and it provides historical information about the area. The site has restrooms, includes trash collection, and is ADA-accessible.
Environmental Education
Important sites along the historical trail, including Independence Rock, Devil’s Gate, Split Rock, Ice Slough, Rocky Ridge, Willie’s Handcart Disaster Site, South Pass, and Parting of the Ways, are great spots to learn about nature. The landscape surrounding these segments looks virtually the same as years ago, making it perfect for collecting historical information.