The Oregon
California Mormon and Bozeman Trails
River
Valley Trails played an important role in the westward expansion of
the United States, providing the route for several major emigrant trails,
including the Oregon, California, Mormon and Bozeman Trails. The French were
the first Europeans to reach the Platte. At Casper, Wyoming the trails left the
North Platte valley and followed the Sweetwater River valley and other river valleys
going further west.
The Platte River originates in the state of Nebraska
and is about 310 miles - 500 km - long. Measured to its farthest
source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over 1,050
miles - 1,690 km. The Platte is a tributary of the Missouri and Mississippi
Rivers which flows to the Gulf of
Mexico.
The North Platte River is approximately 716
miles - 1,152 km – long, across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. It is
navigable over most of its length at high water by canoes, kayaks and rafts. In
Colorado and Wyoming, the river is narrower and much swifter flowing than it is
in Nebraska, where it becomes a slow, shallow stream. The upper reaches of the
river in the Rockies in Colorado and Wyoming are popular for recreation rafting
and fishing.
Casper Wyoming was established in 1860.
Near what is now Casper was the location of several ferries that offered
passage across the North Platte River during the summer Trail season starting about 1847. The wagon trails following
the south side of the Platte/North Platte River ferried or waded in low water
years across the South Platte River in several places to stay on the south side
of the North Platte River where the trails were located. Those who went to
Denver followed the South Platte River trail into Colorado. Historically, the
North Platte River used to be up to a mile wide (1.6 km) in many places as
evidenced by the old streambed and written records.
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the
Platte River located in the eastern flank of the Colorado Rockies, Nebraska and
southeastern Wyoming near Cheyenne. The river forms southwest of Denver in the
South Park grassland basin and is a major source of drinking water for the Denver
area, flowing north through central Denver. The highly industrial Denver Valley
is also a major railroad route. North of Denver it is joined by Clear Creek which
descends from the mountains to the west in a canyon that was the cradle of the
Pike’s Peak Gold Rush.
The South Platte
is the Principal Source of Water for Eastern Colorado
History
originally called the Rio Chato, and before the city of Denver was
founded, many travelers came to the South Platte River to escape the arid Great
Plains.
Fly
Fishing a Gold Medal Western trout river on the Eastern Slope of
Colorado, the river is well known for its brown and rainbow trout.
the best way to travel is in the company of people who live and work in the places you visit.
Your Connection to the Oregon California Mormon and Bozeman Trails
