Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar Map drawn by William Atchinson Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar Map drawn by William Atchinson Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar Map drawn by William Atchinson Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar Map drawn by William Atchinson Photograph of Jim Bridger, American Heritage Center-William Henry Jackson scbl#160 Photograph of Jim Bridger, American Heritage Center-William Henry Jackson scbl#160
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To pass over the Bridger Mountains on their way to the Bighorn River, the emigrant trains had to climb the Bridger Creek drainage and descend Kirby Creek.

The diaries of Charles Baker, Cornelius Hedges, and William Haskell discuss the trials Charles and Lydia Baker, Acknowlegements #28. of traveling up Bridger Creek and down Kirby Creek, although these streams were not known by their present names at that time. Baker discussed the route between June 26 and June 29, after his train completed the first leg from Red Buttes "over very barren country. . . . [They] Left camp and drove 8 miles to good water and grass - camped. Left camp . . . traveled 25 mi. over rough roads & high hills - good water all along over day's travel." The next day, they "[t]ravelled 7 mi. in p.m. over very high hills & rough roads." On June 29, the party "traveled 16 mi. with very little water. . . . came to Big Horn River & camped." Baker's train traveled approximately 48 miles over the divide; very close to the mileage depicted on old General Land Office plats and modern topographic maps.

William Haskell wrote the following description of the route after reaching the base of the Bridger Mountains. On June 30, he "Drove six miles and camped on a nice Map depicting the route of the Bridger Trail through the Bridger Mountains, Acknowledgements #6.creek with an abundance of grass. . . . [July 1] Drove 17 miles over some desperate hills. . . . hard on all the cattle, but there is plenty of grass and water. . . . [July 2] Laid in camp today to let the cattle rest. . . . [July 3] Travelled till about ten o'clock tonight to find water for the cattle. The road over the Mountain peaks where there is just room enough for the wagons to pass; two feet off on either side would have sent us down hundreds of feet below. . . . took us all to keep the teams in the road and the wagon right side up. . . . made but a small drive today. . . . much doubling of teams. . . . [July 4] Travelled eight miles. . . . stopped to eat our Fourth of July dinner. . . . travelled on eight miles. . . . [July 5] Drove six miles and came to Wind [Bighorn] River." Haskell's mileage totals approximately 45 miles plus "a small drive" to approximate the map mileage.

Hedges' diary for June 7 through June 11 is scant on the daily mileage; however, the description of "rough roads . . . steep hill . . . train stopped many teams gave out . . . & a hard, hilly road - much delay in climbing a hill" leaves little doubt this portion of the route was up Bridger Creek. The route down Kirby Creek on June 10 and 11 is also apparent. "Road lay along the creek all day. . . . footed it to the river 6 miles, good road - Wind [Bighorn] river quite a stream."


Animated .Gif, Horse and Wagon

Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar,refer to Acknowledgements #35 Map drawn by William Atchison, refer to Acknowledgements #35 Photograph of Jim Bridger,and William Henry Jackson painting scbl#160, refer to acknowledgements #35
Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar,refer to Acknowledgements #35 Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar,refer to Acknowledgements #35 Bridger's Trail by L.D. Edgar,refer to Acknowledgements #35