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Show 100 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. miles before reaching this point a road branches to the left, by which you can reach the beautiful meadows of this river, sooner than by the main road, and where there is an Indian trading post. By this route the distance is increased about one mile only, and you avoid one bad hill. You no'v ascend a very steep mountain TO THE SUMMIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. I ••••••• I •• 3 Road hard, rocky and rough. POPLAR GROVE .... I I ............................ 6 Some spring water here, and a good place to camp. PINE, FIR, AND POPLAR GROVE ................ 6 Some water here, and grass north of the road. You will no\v pass t\vo small creeks about two miles apart, then travel a rough country among the bluffs, and down into Bear River valley; whole distance from grove to BEAR RIVER V .A.LLEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 This is a most beautiful valley, and affords abundant pasturage. Many on entering the valley pass westwardly, directly for the river; if the object is to stop and recruit it is well enough, but the most direct route is to turn to the north and reach BEAR RIVER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Grass abundant everywhere. You will now have some rough road for a day. SMI'fH'S FORI\: .. . . I ••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••• 3 Good camping. THREE CROSSINGS ... ~ ..................••....... 1 I-Icre JOU cross the fork three tfmes in less than 20 rods, ·water rapid and deep ; you then turn to the left, and pass oYer the " Dcvil's own half mile," an exceedingly rough pass, at the foot of a high rocky bluff. You will now have a good road, and cross several small gravelly creeks, two or three n1iles apart, to THOMAS' FORI{.... . ... I...... . . . . . . ............. 15 • NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. 101 Wide and deep ; sometimes bad to cross ; not very good • • camping. BADGER CI~EEK ....... I ••••••••• I • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • • 6 This creek is in low grounds ; some grass. You soon ascend and pass over a rough country, and do·wn to BEAR RIVER AGAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Good camping, and now an excellent road. CLEAR CREEl\:. . . . . . . . ..................... · · . · · · · 6 A fine stream ; has t1·out in it; good camping ; several fine little creeks cross your pa th before you reach the WHITE SAND RIDGES ........ ~ . ............ . .. . .. 16 Here is a small creek ; but there is no more good \Vater till you reach Bear River, at Soda Springs. BLACK MUD CREEl\:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · · · · · · · 8 ~ This water is not good. even if clear, and if stirred up, poisonous. There are some springs here, and others further on, the waters of ·which, if clear, may not be hurt-ful '· but man.y. deem them poisonous. SODA SPHINGS ........................ · . · · · . · · · · · · 8 Nearly a mile before you reach Soda Springs proper, you pass Sugar Creek, where, a short distance to the right, you will see two huge barren mounds, fifty or more: feet in bight, of a dull brick-red color. These have been formed from the earthy deposits from the waters of innun1erable springs that break out all over their surfaces. -From many of these springs the water is quite hot, and judging from the taste, possessing very different qualities · son1e sour others bitter, and yet others ' ' strongly alkaline. There is a branch of sugar creek to the west and north of these mounds, a half mile or more from tho road, where there is very good camping, with several soda and acidulous springs near by, the waters of which, if agreeable to the taste, are considered whole-some. Nearly a mile further on you arrive at the much cole- |
