One of the highest points on the Mormon Pioneer Trail is found in the Wasatch Mountains about 20 miles east of Salt Lake City. The site is on one of two major routes from the mouth of Echo Canyon to the Salt Lake Valley.
It was the first of those routes to be used, beginning with the Donner Party in 1846 and a year later when Brigham Young led the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Valley in 1847.
This view shows the route of the Mormon Pioneer Trail where it began descending from Big Mountain summit, heading west. The trail seen here is presently used for hiking/biking. | Kenneth Mays
President Young was not the first of the pioneer company to ascend the mountain and then head down to the valley below. Because of severe illness, he was several days behind Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow and a number of others in that group. The ascent up to the summit of Big Mountain was difficult, but the descent down the other side was, in some ways, even more challenging.
The steep slope made it very hard to keep the animals and wagons under control. The elevation of the pass is 7,420 feet above sea level.
Those who have followed the route of the Mormon pioneers realize that Big Mountain Pass is the first place one can see any part of the Salt Lake Valley along that trail. The entire valley is not visible from the summit, but a section or slice of the valley can easily be seen on a clear day.
Along with the Mormon pioneers, the route was also part of the California Trail and the Pony Express route for the 18 months that service existed. The Oregon Trail had already separated from the Mormon, California and Pony Express trails back in Wyoming.