Lander Trail & Salt River, Wyoming
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Lander Cut-Off Trail – A path that left the Oregon Trail to travel to Wyoming & Utah, eventually hooking up with the California Trail again
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Thousands of Pioneers, including the Mormons, traveled it & settled in Wyoming & Utah
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The trail crosses through the lush Wyoming Salt River Range & the Caribou Range of Idaho as well as through Star Valley
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Although this route provided ample wood, grass & water for pioneers, the mountainous terrain as well as the weather also proved to be dangerous.
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In 1858 the government appropriated funds to build a road through the territory. It was the first government road project in the west & opened in 1859
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Afton, a small town with under 2000 residents, is located in Star Valley. It’s Elk Antler Arch is made of over 3,000 antlers, spanning 75 ft. across the 4 lanes of Hwy. 89 and weighs over 15 tons.
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The Salt River is a small river that originates on the western slope of the Salt River Mountain Range just south of the town of Afton.
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It flows through scenic Star Valley between the Salt River Range of Wyoming and the Caribou Range of Idaho