Three Island Crossing
Three Island State Park
Glenns Ferry, Idaho
Every year, on the 2nd weekend in August, local
residents reenact the crossing at this historic location.
The Oregon Trail was the scene of one of the greatest migrations
of people in this country's history. Over 50,000 men, women and children
(some historians say as many as 300,000) traveled over the 2,000 mile trail
in search of a better life in Oregon. History tells us that traveling the
Oregon Trail was difficult. At what is now Three Island State Park,
pioneers were able to cross the dangerous Snake River using two
of the three islands which lay like stepping-stones across the river.
Three Island Crossing is a general term for the place where travelers
on the Oregon Trail crossed the Snake River. There were, however,
two different crossings in the area which were labeled Three Island Crossing.
One crossing which could be forded without swimming or floating was call
Three Island Ford. Two Island Crossing was the second crossing located
one mile upstream from Three Island Ford. At this point, crossing was more
difficult because the wagons had to be floated across the river. Men would
swim to the opposite bank of the river. Then by the use of ropes, they
would pull the wagons across. Most Oregon Trail emigrants believed
that the Three Islnd Ford and the Two Island Crossing were the same; consequently,
the area where both crossings are, became known as Three Island Crossing.
Many hardships of the Oregon Trail are recorded in diaries of
the emigrants. The diaries at Three Island Park tell of wagons and
horses lost in the treacherous crossing:
Mrs. Marcus Whitman, August 13, 1836:
"They were preparing to cross the Snake River. The river is
divided by two islands into three branches, and is fordable. The packs
are placed upon the tops of the highest horses and in this way we crossed
without wetting. Two of the tallest horses were selected to carry Mrs.
Spaulding and myself over. Mr. McLeod gave me his and he rode mine. The
last branch we rode as much as half a mile in crossing and against the
current too, which made it hard for the horses, the water being up to their
sides. Husband had considerable difficulty in crossing the cart. Both cart
and mules were turned upside down in the river and entangled in the harness.
The mules would have been drowned but for a desperate struggle to get them
ashore. Then after putting two men swimming behind to steady it, they succeeded
in getting it across. "
Elizabeth Wood, August 21, 1851:
"We forded the Snake River, which runs so swift that the drivers
(four to a team) had to hold on to the ox yokes to keep from being swept
down by the current. The water came into the wagon boxes, and after making
the island we raised the boxes on blocks, engaged an Indian pilot, doubled
teams, and reached the opposite bank in safety."
In Freemont's diary he tells of crossing at the Three Island Ford:
"About 2 o'clock, we arrived at the Ford where the road crosses
to the right bank of the Snake River. An Indian was hired to conduct us
through the Ford, which proved impractical for us, the water sweeping away
the howitzer and nearly drowning the mules which we were obliged to extricate
by cutting them out of the harness . . . . "
Cornelia A. Sharp, August 9, 1852:
"This day we traveled five or six miles to the river. where
we remained all day. Made several attempts to swim our cattle, but without
success." August 10: "This morning we finally abandoned
the idea of crossing the river; gathered up our cattle, hitched up our
teams and took the sand and sage for it."
One must take into account that events, such as river crossings, were
everyday occurrences for the pioneer families who faced an unimaginable
array of challenges over each day's horizon as the small wagons creaked
and swayed over the vast landscape in order to reach the Willamette
Valley before winter. Many fell in love with different regions of the
new frontier and settled along the thoroughfare, commonly known as the
Oregon Trail, before reaching the Willamette Valley.
The annual reenactment which occurs in Glenns Ferry, Idaho at the
Three Island State Park on the second Saturday in August, commemorates
the courage of those early pioneers who made the crossing. Several thousand
people flock into the community each year to attend the wagon crossing.
At various locations in the park, there will be blackpowder shoots, pioneer
arts and crafts and musical entertainment.
They looked at the world through tired eyes --
The windswept plains, the changing skies.
The grasses fade; the willow leaf flies;
Spring lies dormant; the river never dies.
It stayed the same color, in springtime and fall;
It flowed on forever, outlasting them all. 
It's seen the world's changes that they'll never know,
But it keeps to itself -- just goes with the flow.
It was foe to the crossers whose lives were at stake.
Other Oregon Trail Related Links
Other Idaho related Links
Created for the Three Island Crossing Committee -- April 18, 1995 --
Updated: May 7, 1997