Donner Springs

After spending days crossing the Great Salt Lake Desert, and nearly perishing along the way, the Donner-Reed Party happily arrived at this spring near the base of Pilot Mountain in Box Elder County.  Here they stayed for approximately 10 days to rest themselves and their animals before continuing the journey across Nevada toward the Sierra Mountains and California.  The delay in crossing the desert is considered a major contributor to the party becoming snowbound in the Sierra Mountains and resorting to cannibalism to survive the winter.

Location: Found 35 miles north of Wendover in Box Elder County, Utah near the base of Pilot Peak. Access to Silver Island Mountain Road, which goes to the springs, begins at the Bonneville Raceway exit off of Interstate 80.

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