Three Island Crossing - Glenn's Ferry, Idaho

Along The Oregon Trail, one of the most difficult rivers to cross was the Snake River. The Oregon Trail was one of the greatest migrations of people in American history. Up to 300,000 settlers may have traveled over the 2000-mile trail, all in search of a better life in Oregon. Just traveling The Trail to Oregon was difficult.

Three Island Crossing in Glenn's Ferry, Idaho, pioneers were able to cross the dangerous Snake River. It was extremely dangerous because of the swiftness and depth of the water. It has many whirlpools that have a strong enough under toe to pull a man and his horse down under the water and drown them. The pioneers used two of the three islands like stepping-stones to cross the river. At this point of crossing it was most difficult because the wagons had to be floated across the Snake River. Men would have to swim to the opposite bank of the river, and then using ropes they would pull wagons across.

Journals of the travelers are filled with horror stories about wagons and horses lost at the treacherous crossing. Some pioneers after several attempts at swimming their cattle across the Snake River without success abandoned the idea. Making their own trail along the Snake River back in hopes they could find a better place to cross the river somewhere else.

These everyday occurrences for the pioneer families faced unimaginable challenges each day as the small wagons creaked and swayed over the vast landscape in order to reach Oregon before winter.
Many fell in love with different regions of the new frontier and settled there while others followed along the trail known as The Oregon Trail.

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

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