In 1852, Parthenia Blank wrote of traveling up a long hill for some 4 miles on a good road with a very gradual ascent, and on reaching the top seeing a grand view of the Boise River Valley, covered with dry grass and a few trees along the bank, the first trees seen in more than a month. The Oregon Trail crossed Blacks Creek before turning north to make a gradual climb to a ridgetop known today as Bonneville Point. Many emigrants camped along Blacks Creek and noted limited water, often in a small spring to the left of the road, and many mentioned the climb and the view from the top of the ridge.