New Fork River crossing

In 2014, a historical park was opened to the public at the New Fork River crossing of the historic Lander Trail. The 100-acre park is located on the west bank of the New Fork River in western Wyoming. The park is located 25 miles south of Pinedale and 14 miles east of Big Piney, one mile north of Wyoming Highway 351 where it crosses the New Fork River. Follow the directional signs on the highway to arrive at the park, which is open during the months May through October.

Today, most major emigrant river crossings on the historic trails lie on developed private land. This park provides a unique opportunity for access to a river crossing that remains much like it looked when emigrants passed through in the 1860s.

Visitors can walk a one-mile, self-guided loop on a rustic trail to explore an emigrant river crossing and campsite. Nine interpretive signs with quotes from diary accounts help tourists imagine what pioneers experienced here. An alternate one-tenth mile, handicap-accessible trail leads to an overlook of the old emigrant island and now abandoned river channel.

For more information, visit www.NewForkPark.org, email info@newforkpark.org or call the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale at (307) 367-4101.