Bidwell-Bartelson Trail

The Donner Party gets all of the publicity for crossing Donner Summit. But it was the Bidwell-Bartelson Party that made the first trip across Donner Summit, the 40 Mile Desert, and the Humboldt River Route. There ground breaking path was followed for decades, but in a few places the path changed. For example, they took the Palisade Canyon outside of Elko in 1841. By 1843 all wagon trains were using the Emigrant Gap trail. 

The gap in the mountains is Palisade Canyon. You can find this marker and the exit from Palisade Canyon two miles north of Beowawe.

And just like that the scenery changed. Although there were no farms in 1841, the fertile Humboldt River valley provided grass, trees, and food instead of desert and sagebrush!