Arrived here on May 4th. It was later in the day, so there was hardly anyone here. We still spent 30-45 minutes walking around, taking pictures, and reading the signs. After leaving, we headed to the Archway, which I highly recommend — take the tour (it was also a good place to spend one night).

History: Established in 1848 and named after Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny, Fort Kearny was the first U.S. Army post built specifically to protect travelers on the Oregon Trail. During an 18-month stretch following the 1849 Gold Rush, an estimated 30,000 people bound for California, Oregon, and Utah passed through.

We arrived on the morning of May 6th. You can't really walk up to it, and they offer a museum tour for a fee, which I skipped since there didn't seem to be much to it. I'm glad we stopped, and I was able to see it again in the distance from Scotts Bluff later that day.

History: Rising about 300 feet above the North Platte River, Chimney Rock was first used as a landmark by fur traders in the early 1800s and became a signal to westbound travelers that they were nearing the end of the plains and the start of the Rockies. It's mentioned in more emigrant diaries than any other feature along the Oregon Trail.

Spent the afternoon of May 6th here and was able to drive to the top (there's a height restriction due to tunnels) and walk the trails. We talked to some of the rangers here, who helped Jaime get started collecting every free guide she could get her hands on for the rest of the trip.

History: Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff served as a landmark for Native peoples and emigrants on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails alike. It was named after fur company clerk Hiram Scott, who died nearby in 1824.

Another stop on May 6th. Watch out walking in the grass — you'll pick up stickers all over your shoes and any clothing near the ground. I was here last year, and at that time no one else was around. This time, other people were walking around, park staff was on hand, and there were some horses in the parking lot. Definitely worth a stop while driving the trail.

History: Fort Laramie began as a fur-trade post in 1834, later shifting to buffalo robe trading and supplying westbound emigrants, before the U.S. Army purchased it in 1849 to serve as a key logistics hub.

The spot where everyone carves their name in the rock along with the year they were there. We saw quite a few old carvings, some as recent as 2022. Signs everywhere state that the area is under surveillance and carving is illegal, so do so at your own risk.

History: Register Cliff was the first night's camp west of Fort Laramie, where emigrants rested, pastured their animals, and carved their names and travel dates into the soft limestone — many inscriptions dating to the peak travel years of the 1840s and '50s.

A new day, a new place to see! We stopped at a rest area on May 7th that happened to be right where we wanted to see this. There's a trail leading to and around it — not too long a walk, but a nice one, as long as you watch your step.

History: Named for a fur trader's Fourth of July celebration held there in 1830, this massive granite outcrop became one of the most famous Oregon Trail landmarks. Pioneers aimed to reach it by July 4th to ensure they'd beat the winter snows to Oregon.

May 8th took us to Fort Bridger. This wasn't at all what I expected, but I'm still glad we made the stop. There are some restored cabins nearby showing what cabins along the Lincoln Highway would have looked like, but we mainly walked around the parking lot and grounds outside the paid area, since it didn't look like a place I wanted to spend more time at.

History: Founded in 1842 by mountain man Jim Bridger and his partner Louis Vasquez as a fur trading outpost, Fort Bridger became a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. The U.S. Army took it over in 1858 during the Utah War and operated it until 1890.

We stopped by Fort Hall and still aren't sure if we went to the right place, or if the small recreation area at the park was where we were supposed to be. There didn't seem to be much here — just a lot of people playing frisbee golf.

History: Fort Hall was established in 1834 by Nathaniel Wyeth as a fur trading post before being sold to the Hudson's Bay Company. It served emigrants until it was abandoned in 1856, and marked the point where Oregon-bound travelers diverged from those headed toward California.

We stopped here on May 10th and were able to walk a trail, but not everything was open yet, so some roads were closed. I enjoyed what we were able to see, but this is another place going on my list to come back to in the future.

History: In 1862, an emigrant party asked guide Tim Goodale to lead them west from Fort Hall along an alternate route, hoping to reach the Salmon River gold fields more directly. Goodale successfully led over 1,000 people, 338 wagons, and nearly 3,000 head of stock through what's now Craters of the Moon — the largest wagon train ever to travel any section of the Oregon Trail.

Just a small pull-off on the side of the road, but there was a sign and some nice scenery.

History: This 230-mile spur left the main Oregon Trail near Fort Hall, crossed the Snake River Plain, and rejoined the trail near Boise — offering a safer alternative after tensions with the Shoshone and Bannock tribes increased along the main route in the early 1860s.

On May 10th, the falls weren't running at full flow since the dam was closed, but it was still a nice view and stop. We met a young girl and her sister here feeding rock chucks, who told us what they were. It looked like they'd just had babies, since there were a lot of smaller ones running around. Got some pics and video of them.

History: Nicknamed the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls has drawn visitors since the mid-1800s, when Oregon Trail emigrants would detour from the main route just to see it. At 212 feet, it's taller than Niagara Falls itself.

Made it here on May 11th and found a big park with athletic fields — not what I was expecting. But since I wanted to be surprised along the way, I hadn't looked into what each stop actually was, just where I should stop.

History: Built in 1834 by the Hudson's Bay Company to compete with Fort Hall, Fort Boise became known for the hospitality its staff showed to weary emigrants after 300 dry miles from Fort Hall. A flood in 1853 and rising conflict with local tribes led to its abandonment in 1855.

When we got here on May 13th, I was excited to see what this was, since I had no clue — just knew it was a spot to visit. Unfortunately, I still can't tell you what's here, since the road was closed partway up, right after where the picture was taken, and wasn't set to reopen until May 24th. Plan accordingly if you want to visit.

History: The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center opened in 1992 on Flagstaff Hill near Baker City, Oregon — the site preserves 13 miles of visible wagon ruts alongside exhibits on the emigrant experience.

All I knew going in was that this was a waterfall, and when we arrived on May 13th, I wasn't disappointed. You can walk up to the bridge, which we did, and then continue up toward the top (about a mile one way) — we made it about halfway. It was a nice walk, hot day, and cooler the further up we went. Crowds were heaviest at the base of the falls and on the bridge, but cleared up past that point. One thing to note: to reach it, you'll walk through a small tunnel that goes under the road to cross the expressway.

History: The falls' dramatic drop was carved roughly 15,000 years ago by the Missoula Floods — catastrophic glacial outburst floods that repeatedly surged down the Columbia River Gorge. Local legend holds that the falls began when a chief's daughter sacrificed herself to save her village from a plague, causing water to flow from the mountainside for the first time.

We ended the day on May 13th by completing the Oregon Trail! It's hard to believe it only took us 13 days to complete this drive — we could have taken it slower, but also could have done it a lot faster. Along the way, we stopped by a lake for two days, which was a nice place for me to work from. I also drove a specific someone a bit crazy on my long workdays when we were parked at rest areas in the middle of nowhere while I worked long hours. All in all, it was a great trip, and one I wouldn't mind taking again — slower, and when I don't have to work — but with so many other places to see, I'm not sure when I'll get back to it.