Campsites

There were many common campsites along the trails that were used by the wagon and handcart groups. One was at Ash Hollow (pictured above), where there was plentiful water, grass for the animals and shade (an important commodity along the trail). Other places where groups commonly stopped included Fort Kearney (pronounced karnie), an outpost established in 1848 in central Nebraska, Fort Laramie (eastern Wyoming), and near many of the rock formations (like Independence Rock and Chimney Rock). Over the years of the emigration, some of these campsites turned into dumping grounds for garbage and items too heavy for the wagons and carts. They also had sanitation problems. It is estimated that almost 500,000 people crossed the United States on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, so it's easy to understand how campsites could become overused and the land overgrazed along the way.