Register Cliff Historic Site

Visit Register Cliff Historic Site in the vicinity of Guernsey, Wyoming.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Vicinity of Guernsey, Wyoming

Significance:

Soft, chalky limestone rock made it easy for emigrants to inscribe their names into the cliff

Designation:

Wyoming State Historic Site

MANAGED BY:

Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails

Amenities

4 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Picnic Table, Restroom, Trailhead

Following a day's journey from Fort Laramie, emigrants spent the night at Register Cliff, which rises one hundred feet above the North Platte River valley. The soft, chalky limestone rock made it easy for emigrants to inscribe their names into the cliff before continuing on their journey. The earliest signatures date to the late 1820s when trappers and fur traders passed through the area. Most of the names visible today were carved during the 1840s and 1850s, when the Oregon Trail was at its height.

Site Information

Location (vicinity of Guernsey, Wyoming)

Today, visitors can walk along the cliff base to view the signatures up close. The cliff is defaced with modern graffiti, but the historical inscriptions at the east end (left end as you face the cliff) are protected by a tall wire fence. The historic site also contains a pioneer cemetery with several graves. 

Safety Considerations

More Site Information

National Historic Trail sites near Guernsey, Wyoming

Oregon National Historic Trail

California National Historic Trail

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

Pony Express National Historic Trail

Guernsey, WY - Places to visit along the Oregon, California, Pony Express, and Mormon Pioneer NHTs

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Duration:

4 minutes, 25 seconds

Guernsey, Wyoming, is a small town situated along the North Platte River and the Great Platte River Road, a significant historic route followed by travelers on the Oregon, California, Pony Express, and Mormon Pioneer national historic trails. Visitors have the opportunity to explore several notable trail related sites in the area, including Oregon Trail Ruts State Park, Register Cliff State Park, and Guernsey State Park, each showcasing the remnants and legacy of westward expansion.

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