After two months of traveling over relatively flat prairie land, the pioneers this June 5, 1847 found the terrain changing.

Wilford Woodruff:

"WE HAD QUITE A ROUGH ROAD TODAY. . .THE BLUFFS, PEAKS AND HILLS BEGIN TO BE MORE LOFTY AS WE GET INTO THE HILLS."

The wheels of their wagons were among the thousands that cut these dramatic ruts into the sandstone near what is today Guernsey, Wyoming.

William Clayton:

"IN ONE PLACE THERE IS A LITTLE DESCENT AND AT THE BOTTOM A VERY SHARP TURN IN THE ROAD OVER ROUGH ROCK. HERE BROTHER CROW'S CART TURNED OVER. HOWEVER, IT WAS SOON RIGHTED AND NO INURY DONE TO ANYTHING."

Today, the famous ruts are protected as part of a Wyoming State Park.