We are going to the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites at Martin’s Cove, Sixth Crossing and Rock Creek Hollow in Wyoming. We will camp near the Martin’s Cove Visitor Center in the Cherry Creek Campground. On Wednesday we will travel to Independence Rock, Martin’s Cove Visitor Center at Sun Ranch, Devil’s Gate and set up camp. Thursday we will trek 6 miles with handcarts out to the Cove and back, rest, play games and square dance. Friday we will break camp, travel to Sixth Crossing and trek 6.5 miles with handcarts along the pioneer trail, then travel to Rock Creek Hollow campground to set up camp. Saturdaywe will break camp and travel to Fort Bridger, Big Mountain and This is the Place monument in the Salt Lake Valley. These are all very sacred places because of the faith, obedience and sacrifice of the pioneers that traveled this trail.

• Intentional focused opportunity to grow closer to god and get to know your savior better

• To grow your testimony

• Doing hard things enables us to refine and grow in our ability to receive personal revelation

• God puts hard things in our paths, no matter when or how, and we endure and try to become better

• 80000 people crossed the plains to Utah over ~10 years

We will be traveling in rented 15-passenger vans that are roomier and more comfortable than covered wagons (or walking with a handcart) guaranteed! There will be scheduled pit stops.

Every youth in our Stake who is currently turning 12 during 2025 and older. Our goal is to have every eligible youth come to Trek. If you have any questions, check with your Bishop.

The trek will be approximately 6-6.5 miles long each day. 6 miles Thursday and 6.5 miles Friday. Along the way, we will take opportunities to have activities, firesides, and historical reenactments to learn about our pioneer heritage and the important events at Independence Rock, Martin’s Cove, Sweetwater Crossing, Rocky Ridge, Rock Creek Hollow, Fort Bridger, Big Moutain and This is the Place Monument.

April 6th, 2025 at 8:00 PM MDT

Registration forms will be available at the trek fireside and on this website (click here) and need to be turned into your Bishopric members by April 6th at 8:00pm. Each participant will pay $75 through their ward with a tithing donation slip labeled “Other” or a Venmo option is available on this website as well.

Be aware there will be no cell service at our campsites or along the trek. You will be able to better feel the spirit, and have a more meaningful pioneer experience if you are not distracted by technology. There is no electricity, no cell service, and items will become full of dust. This is a wonderful opportunity to leave that part of your life behind and focus on your spiritual connection rather than your electric ones. Also, please do not bring: valuables such as jewelry or watches, new shoes or flip flops, perfume, lotion, hairspray (these attract bugs).

We will be trekking and camping with our stake. We will organize into handcart groups of about 10-12 youth per handcart. You will have a Ma and a Pa that will care for and keep track of your family. Each handcart will be loaded with (2) 5-gallon containers of water and each family member’s lunch, water bottle, and daypack of necessities. At night we will camp together as trek families with girls and boys sleeping in separate tents. The activities and meals will be held together as a Stake. There will be many opportunities for youth to associate with people of other families.

We will be wearing comfortable weather appropriate hiking and camping clothes for the entire trek. Temperatures range from high to low of about 40 degrees. In the last ten years temperatures have ranged from 39-69 degrees in one day up to 51-91 degrees in one day approximately. High winds every afternoon with the hottest part of the day being around 5:00pm (we will be off the trek trails by that time every afternoon). Expect cold in the mornings. Be prepared.

Each participant will trek for a family ancestor who followed the pioneer trail into the Salt Lake Valley or a pioneer of their choice. Resources will be provided to each ward to assist the youth in participating in their own family history research. Engaging in this family history work will bring a great spirit to Trek and will make the experience more meaningful to you. We encourage you to learn all you can about your ancestor and share their story with your group on the Trek. You can use the reference links on the right side to start finding a pioneer or ancestor.

We have procured sturdy 5 gallon buckets with a secure lid for each youth to pack their clothing and necessities into. These buckets will be used as your seats for meals and around the campfires. They will be distributed through your family group in one of the pre-trek activities youth will have to get acquainted with their family.

Participants will be issued a packing list two weeks before trek. This list will also be available on the Grandview Trek Website. They will pack their clothing and toiletries in the bucket and sleeping gear in a labeled duffle bag or black garbage bag. These items will need to be brought and loaded into a trailer at the stake center the night before trek on Tuesday, June 10th, 6:00pm-8:00pm. Small day packs may be brought in the vans for items needed during the drive but space will be limited so make sure it is something you can hold on your lap or under your seat.

This is camping and the toilets are clean, safe, non flushing toilets. They are abundant in our large campground, and along the trek trails. There is no running water but each campground has a large well with a pump so fresh water will always be available. However, you will not be allowed to brush teeth, wash hands or wash dishes within 50 feet of the pump. That will be done using the water you fill your water bottles with (and the soap you bring) far from the pump.