To begin with only the South Pass route was known, and so whether people actually wanted to go to Oregon or California, all moved through the South Pass and on to the west coast.
The route led across the High Plains by the River North Platte. It then began to rise towards the Pass.
People used natural landmarks along the route, such as Chimney Rock and Independence Rock.
So many traveled, they wore out ruts in the rock, such as at Guernsey, Wyoming.
