The Oregon Trail passed through South Pass (see Lander) about 85 road miles north of present-day Rock Springs, WY and also at Fort Bridger (see Evanston) about 55 road miles west. Hwy 28 about 40 miles north of Rock Springs via Hwy 191, parallels the Oregon, Mormon, Pony Express and California Trails. These are some of the finest trail remains in the United States.
The Overland Stage Route later came through Rock Springs, then the railroad. Just a few miles north of Rock Springs, are the largest sand dunes in North America - think of earlier travelers going over this land along the Overland Stage Route toward the stage station that was the beginning of the town in 1862. You may want to visit the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in nearby Green River. For a non-Oregon Trail side trip, try Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area which can be accessed from Rock Springs on the east or from nearby Green River on the west.
