Oregon Trail Deep Creek Crossing

Deep Creek Crossing preserves some of the most pristine Oregon Trail wagon ruts in Wyoming, where you can still see the worn grooves carved by thousands of pioneer wagons between 1843 and 1869. This 24-mile route follows the original trail from Guernsey to Register Cliff, passing the Hartville Mining Cemetery where cholera victims from the trail are buried alongside 19th-century miners. At Martin’s Cove, the road crosses Deep Creek at the exact spot where the Martin Handcart Company was trapped by early winter in 1856.

Easy driving on maintained gravel and dirt roads suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though spring mud can be challenging. The route is open year-round except during severe winter storms, and no permits are required. Cell service is spotty but present near Guernsey. What makes this special isn’t technical difficulty but the profound connection to American history – you’re literally driving in the tracks of westward expansion, surrounded by artifacts and graves that tell the story of one of the greatest migrations in human history.