Register Cliff

Register Cliff, located 4½ miles south of Guernsey Wyoming and just 8 miles west of Fort Laramie, is one of the more famous landmarks of the overland trails. Here many thousands of pioneers carved their names into a soft sandstone cliff overlooking the river valley. In reality, these carvings are little more than "emigrant graffiti". Several hundred of these signatures are still visible today. This is one of many such "signature rocks" that were used by travelers in the mid 1800s. Others include Independence Rock and Courthouse Rock. This area also marked the beginnings of the Rocky Mountains and the hardest parts of the trail. This grassy area was a favored stopping point for many wagon trains.
Today a paved road leads through Guernsey and across the river to the cliffs. A short hiking trail leads visitors from the parking lot to a fenced area of the cliff that preserves many of the historic carvings. Several interpretive signs point out famous names and the history of the area. There is also a pioneer cemetery and trail markers near the parking area.
This cliff marked mile 658 of the trek to Oregon. Just west of this point, the Oregon trail climbed out of the river valley to head across the grassy high plains and to avoid a series of canyons along the river. Guernsey State Park and nearby Glendo State Recreation areas are favorite reservoirs that fill the canyon areas today. Some of the best preserved wagon "trail ruts" are just a short distance away.
The Mud Springs station is(was) located about one mile west of State Route 385, or about 15 miles southeast of Bridgeport in south central Morrill County. The station was used on the famed Pony Express from 1860 - 1861, later the station was used as a stage stop along the Sidney - Deadwood trail and as a telegraph station for the 1st trans-continental telegraph line. While in use for the Pony Express, the station served as a "home" station for tired riders to rest after passing the mail on.
Although little or nothing remains of any original buildings, almost all of the buildings built at the Mud Springs site were constructed of sod with brush and mud gravel roofs. Late 1860's travelers described the station as "a dirty hovel" and it achieved a rather bad reputation for high priced meals and muddy dirt. Archeological evidence suggests that Native Americans may have occupied the site for many centuries before emigrants from the east came along.
After the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869, the station was all but abandoned and many of the occupants moved to the tiny town of Simla nearby where a Post Office had been established. Later, even this town disappeared and the Post Office moved to Dalton.
Today, a marker erected by The Mud Spring's Women's Club in 1939 is just about the only reminder of the history made here. The area consists of a small spring surrounded by a grove of trees, rolling hills, grass and is little different then Express riders would have seen it 140+ years ago. Only a short distance from well traveled roads, this makes an interesting diversion and a great place for a summer picnic.

 OREGON TRAIL RUTS

The 5+ foot deep ruts found on this steep hillside are among the best preserved anywhere along the overland trail routes. Thousands upon thousands of wagon wheels literally cut into solid rock as oxen strained to pull heavy wagons out of the North Platte River valley. This State of Wyoming Historical Site is located about 3 miles south of Guernsey Wyoming along a dirt road.
A parking area at the base of the hill includes restroom facilities and several signs and markers to help enrich the experience. A short hike up a steep trail leads visitors to these ruts. Several benches and additional signs break up the hike into shorter segments and give a very good military perspective to this area of the Oregon Trail. Actually standing in the "ruts" that formed this famous overland highway, is an experience not to be missed. Visitors should try to picture in their minds a wagon train struggling up the rocky hillside. It must have been quite a site!!
This site marked a transition from the level river valley to the high plains and Rocky Mountains further west. Fort Laramie's re-supply and Army protection were only a days travel back east but ahead was the continental divide. Many family heirlooms were left behind as the trail got steeper.

Crossroads of a Nation Moving West
This “grand old post,” established as a private fur trading fort in 1834, witnessed the entire sweeping saga of America’s western expansion and Indian resistance to encroachment on their territories. Indians, trappers, traders, missionaries, emigrants, gold seekers, soldiers, cowboys and homesteaders would leave their mark on a place that would become famous in the American West

 

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