Hudspeth's Cutoff
In the summer of 1849, the
California gold rush was diverted
this way in search of a more
direct route to the mines.
Stampeding 49'ers would try anything to save
miles and time in their rush for California gold:
the regular Oregon and california trails looped
north of here to Fort Hall, but on July 19,
1849 Benoni M. Hudspeth led a party west
from Soda Springs through rough country
hoping for a more direct route through a gap
1.4 miles south of here. This immediately
became the main road, though it saved
far less than Hudspeth thought.
