Massacre Rocks State Park, State park in Power County, Idaho, US
Massacre Rocks State Park lies along the Snake River in Power County, Idaho, 10 miles southwest of American Falls. Its dark reddish-brown boulders, known as Massacre Rocks, "Gate of Death" or "Devil's Gate", rise from dry brush-covered ground; a tall rounded outcrop with a broad ledge stands above a massive blocky boulder with a dark recess near its base. The rocks were deposited about 14,500 years ago by the Bonneville Flood.
The site witnessed an armed conflict between Oregon Trail settlers and Shoshone people in 1862. The confrontation resulted in deaths on both sides and shaped how this section of the route was remembered.
Register Rock carries carved names and dates left by travelers who paused here during their westward journey in the 19th century. The inscriptions offer a direct glimpse into the individuals who moved along the Oregon Trail and show how this stopping point mattered to those passing through.
The park is reached by automobile from Interstate 86, and a footpath links it to the rest areas just east of the park on the same highway. Trails on the south side of the highway lead to remnants of the original Oregon Trail. Exhibits in the visitor center describe the park's history and geology.
The rock formations were carried here during the Bonneville Flood, when water from a prehistoric lake swept across the region. The force of the flood was strong enough to move entire boulders over long distances.
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