Martin's Cove, Historical site in Natrona County, United States
Martin's Cove is a 933-acre cove in Natrona County, Wyoming, 55 miles southwest of Casper, on the Mormon Trail and the North Platte-Sweetwater segment of the Oregon Trail. The cove is a sheltered hollow where emigrants camped; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1977.
In November 1856 the Martin Handcart Company, about 600 Latter-day Saints who had left on July 28, was halted for five days in the cove by snow and cold. A rescue party sent by Brigham Young had met them near the Sweetwater River; more than 145 of the company died before reaching Salt Lake City on November 30. In the 1870s French-Canadian frontiersman Tom Sun bought the land and established Tom Sun Ranch.
Each year thousands of LDS Church youth join "Handcart Treks" near the cove, dressing in period clothing and pulling handcarts for several days along the Mormon Trail. The trek's high point is a visit to the cove and nearby Devil's Gate, with the church's visitors' center as a stop. About 100,000 people come to the site annually, most of them church members.
The site is located about 55 miles southwest of Casper and features hiking trails along with educational programs available for visitors. Plan time to explore different areas and take advantage of guided tours or interpretive talks offered on-site.
The site is managed through a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and a private organization, established in 2004. This partnership allows the location to function as both a public site and a place of personal importance to those who visit.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,213 contributors worldwide.