1848 Salt Lake Alternate
Contributed by Steve F. Russell
Aliases: Hensley’s Salt Lake Alternate
This alternate route from Salt Lake City to the Walker/Humboldt River Road became popular when the Mormon settlers of the Great Salt Lake Valley began to resupply goods to the California emigrants. The quality and quantity of the goods convinced many parties to take this route. The valley also offered a great place to take a respite from the difficult journey. This route, and the 1849 Hudspeth Cutoff, were superior to the Hastings Cutoff, leading to its abandonment by 1850.
Its highest elevation, at the western end (south of City of Rocks), is 6067 feet. The length of the trail from Salt Lake City to its western junction with the California Trail, is 166.8 topographic miles.