Originally called the Emigrant Road, the Oregon Trail was the main route of westward expansion from 1812 to 1869, and an estimated 500,000 people passed this point seeking new lands and new lives in the West. Because of its unique shape, Split Rock became a well-known landmark and navigation aid, guiding emigrants for an entire day’s travel from the east and remaining visible behind them for another two days. From here it was about six days to South Pass, the gateway to the Great Salt Lake Valley, California’s gold fields, and the Pacific Northwest. Emigrants on the Oregon and Mormon Pioneer Trails coming from Devil’s Gate, 12 miles east, often camped below this point on the Sweetwater River, where good grass and water were available for stock. West of here, wagon ruts carved into the rocks by iron-wheeled wagons are still visible. Mormon emigrants generally tried to stay on the opposite side of the river from the main trail to avoid confrontations with others heading west. In 1844, James Clyman wrote of this place in his journal, noting smoky conditions, signs of an Indian war party, travel up the stream on the south side, rugged bare granite rocks along the north side close to the water, wild sheep that were taken and found very fine eating, and a landscape that seemed to him thrown up in the utmost confusion.