Parting of the Ways

Notice the wagon ruts that can be seen way in the distance in the upper left hand side of the following picture...

This may well be one of the most subtly dramatic sites remaining on the emigrant trails. Here, in the middle of an open, sagebrush plain, the trails diverge. Emigrants had to decide whether to stay on the main route and head southwest towards Fort Bridger or veer right and cross the Little Colorado Desert on the Greenwood or Sublette Cutoff. The cutoff, opened in 1844, saved about 46 miles but included some fifty waterless miles. The popularity of this route increased markedly in 1849; argonauts were much more willing to take risks if they promised to save time.

Parting of the Ways has been the subject of many misunderstandings. On State Route 28 a few miles beyond the BLM interpretive overlook at South Pass, a historic marker erected by the Historic Landmark Commission of Wyoming in 1956 proclaims this site to be Parting of the Ways, stating "This marks a fork in the trail, right to Oregon, left to Utah and California." 32 years later, the Oregon-California Trails Association erected another marker next to this one which correctly states that the true Parting of the Ways lies another 9½ miles to the west.

This site on SR 28 is now widely known as False Parting of the Ways and directions to trail sites in this area will often reference "False Parting." The real site will often be called "True Parting."

At True Parting, the eye can follow the divergent trails for miles towards the horizon.It is also inaccurate, though frequently stated, that Parting of the Ways marked the point where parties headed to California and those headed to Oregon parted ways. In fact, if your destination was either California or Oregon, either branch would serve you well. Those in need of supplies or worried about the condition of their members or livestock usually took the left fork, towards Fort Bridger. Since this was also the route to Utah, Mormon parties also took the road to the left. But California-bound emigrants could and often did travel with their Oregon-bound friends as far as the middle of Idaho. Nonetheless, Parting of the Ways did mark a spot where many emigrants bid a tearful farewell to friends they would probably never see again.

A marker at True Parting of the Ways, indicating the right fork for the Sublette Cutoff and the left fork for Fort Bridger, is not original.