Trek 2026 · July 14–18
Trek Week Itinerary
Monday · July 13
Pre-Trek Preparation
- Mas and/or Pas pick up vans at Enterprise Rental in Cedar City
- Load trailers — 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Tuesday · July 14
Travel Day & Arrival
Sixth Crossing — Sweetwater Campgrounds #2 & #3
- Wear travel clothes (no pioneer clothing needed today)
- Bring a sack lunch for the drive
- Arrive at the church at 6:30 AM to prepare for departure
- Depart Parowan at 7:00 AM (family vans caravan to Wyoming)
- Campground check-in between 1:00 and 8:00 PM
- Set up camp — tents, family areas, kitchen
- Dinner at 5:30 PM
- Activities and get to know each other
- Family spiritual thought and evening prayer at 9:45 PM
- Quiet hours 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM
Wednesday · July 15
Martin's Cove Trek
Trailhead next to Fort Seminoe
- Arrive at the trailhead 45 minutes before your start time.
- No food in the cove — water bottles can and should be taken.
- 30 min prior to trek departure, the Trail Boss and both Medical Personnel meet at the Camp Host Cabin for the Trail Guide Briefing (Ecclesiastical Leader encouraged to attend). The medical vehicle & keys must be in place at the Camp Host Cabin before the trek departs.
Morning at camp
- Wake up — Group 1 at 4:45 AM, Group 2 at 5:30 AM
- Breakfast, then leave camp for the trailhead — Group 1 at 5:15 AM, Group 2 at 6:15 AM
- Arrive at the trailhead — Group 1 at 6:00 AM, Group 2 at 7:15 AM
- 1.Trailhead (next to Fort Seminoe) — Introduction45 min prior
Meet trail guides, receive instructions for the trail, and line up handcarts.
Trail Boss assigns a prayer.
- 2.Fort Seminoe10 min
Trail guide gives a brief historical overview and reminds everyone of trail rules.
- 3.Pavilion10 min
Restroom break, water refill. Leave handcarts before going into the cove.
- 4.Gathering Space20 min
Devotional, story, or musical number to prepare to enter the cove.
No stories inside the cove — this is the place for those activities.
Thought / storyAmy B. Louder presentationPresenter: Group 1: BreeAnn Laub · Group 2: Sue Bassett - 5.Top of the Cove10–15 min
Quiet time — scripture, journal, prayer, and personal reflection.
No stories or devotionals in the cove.
- 6.Monument15 min
Pause for photos — group photos are very good here.
Thought / storyEllen Neibar storyPresenter: Group 1: Laney Adams · Group 2: Whitlee Anderson - 7.Pavilion30 min
Restroom break, water refill, and lunch.
- 8.Rescue Statues20 minOptional
You can elect to pause here to share a thought or story.
Thought / storyRescuer stories. Group 1: Joseph Young & Reddick Allred. Group 2: Arza Hinckley & Reddick Allred.Presenter: Group 1: Lee Grimm (Young), Will E. (Allred) · Group 2: Bishop Kyle Johnson (Hinckley), A. Anderson (Allred) - 9.Sweetwater River25–30 min
Weather and water levels permitting, pull the handcarts through the river and take time to cool off.
- 10.River restrooms10 min
- 11.Women's or reduced pull≤30 minOptional
Along this section of the trail, you have the option of a women’s or reduced pull.
- 12.Trek Center30 min
Watch the “Tongue nor Pen” movie; testimony from a leader.
Piano duet — Gunner Tuttle & Belle Staheli, “Come, Come, Ye Saints” (both groups).
- 13.Outfitting15 min
Return handcarts to outfitting; unload and clean if needed before departing.
Evening at camp
- Dinner at 5:30 PM
- Activities and free time — 7:00 to 9:00 PM
- Bishops' devotional for each ward — 9:00 to 9:30 PM
- Family spiritual thought and evening prayer at 9:45 PM
- Lights out at 10:00 PM
Thursday · July 16
Sixth Crossing Trek
Willie Handcart Company trail — includes the Women's Pull · Trailhead just outside the North Gate of the campground
- 30 min prior to trek departure, the Trail Boss and both Medical Personnel meet at the Camp Host Cabin for the Trail Guide Briefing (Ecclesiastical Leader encouraged to attend). The medical vehicle & keys must be in place at the Camp Host Cabin before the trek departs.
Morning at camp
- Wake up and breakfast at 6:30 AM
- Leave camp for the trailhead — Group 1 at 7:40 AM, Group 2 at 8:40 AM
- 1.Trailhead — Introduction10 min prior
Missionaries guide this meeting: Willie Handcart Company background, trekking policies and procedures.
Trail Boss assigns a prayer.
- 2.Poison Springs15 min
Restroom stop only (1.5 miles into the trek). Trail Boss checks porta-potties — people out, lids down.
- 3.View Ridge15 min
Missionaries point out landmarks — Split Rock, NHT, Wind River Mountains, South Pass. Reduced pull starts from here.
Thought / storyBetsy Cunningham storyPresenter: Group 1: Buddy & Tami Millet · Group 2: Mason & Sadie Eyre - 4.Reduced / Women's Pull30 minOptional
Starts from View Ridge with others waiting further down the trail. If women's pull: YW story; YM go ahead and may have a story while waiting.
Thought / storyGroup 1: Ann J. Rowley story. Group 2: song — “As Sisters in Zion.”Presenter: Group 1: Aubrey Tuttle · Group 2: Nicole Hynson - 5.Linford Monument15 minOptional
Walk by on the way to Willie Meadow. Thought or story either at the monument (small group) or at Willie Meadow.
Thought / storyGeorge Linford story — if time permitsPresenter: Missionary leaders (both groups) - 6.Willie Meadow30 min
Benches, restrooms, water. Lunch for the 9:00 AM trek.
Thought / storyWriting in journals, with guitar & harmonica as background music.Presenter: Music — Group 1: Cooper Heath · Group 2: Ben Platt - 7.WillowsOptional
May walk along the willows by the riverbank. Park handcarts on trail; lead group from the rear through the mowed path back to carts.
- 8.Eminence15 minOptional
No large gathering spot — stop on the trail. Good family time.
Thought / storyLevi Savage storyPresenter: Group 1: Roy Mathews · Group 2: Bishop Cody Wilson - 9.Two Gates30 min
Benches, restrooms. Lunch for the 8:00 AM trek.
Thought / storyGroup 1: Ephraim Hanks story. Group 2: Harvey Cluff (told in character).Presenter: Group 1: Ty Mackelprange · Group 2: Clay Cluff as Harvey Cluff - 10.Flagg Bridge / River Crossing30 minOptional
Missionaries prepare the group; select 6–8 adults to form a corridor next to the bridge in the river.
Stop at the Calving Shed to change footwear. Lead carts through the river and park in the meadow.
- 11.Trailhead
Unload handcarts, wash and return them to the handcart corral.
Visitors’ Center after the trek — running water and bathrooms.
Evening at camp
- Dinner at 5:30 PM
- Dancing at 7:00 PM — led by Brother & Sister Laub
- Rocky Ridge Trek Prep meeting (NHT training) at 7:00 PM at the Sixth Crossing Visitors' Center — leaders and one Ma or Pa from each family attend, at the same time as the dancing
- Family spiritual thought and evening prayer at 9:45 PM
- Lights out at 10:00 PM
Friday · July 17
Rocky Ridge Trek
9.5-mile loop from Sage Camp
- Both groups trek together — single 8:00 AM start.
- Rocky Ridge Trek Prep meeting (required NHT training) was held Thursday 7:00 PM at the Sixth Crossing Visitors' Center — see Thursday evening.
- Park at the Sage Campground turn-off from the Fort Stambaugh–Atlantic City road and walk down — vehicles stay at the turn-off. Unload there, walk down the road to restrooms, load handcarts, meet at the trailhead.
- The medical truck can haul the water jugs down to the trailhead.
- Trail guides tally off-trail infractions on this trek (hats, potty breaks, wandering, photos).
- 30 min prior to trek departure, the Trail Boss and both Medical Personnel meet at the Camp Host Cabin for the Trail Guide Briefing (Ecclesiastical Leader encouraged to attend). The medical vehicle & keys must be in place at the Camp Host Cabin before the trek departs.
Morning at camp
- Wake up at 5:15 AM
- Breakfast and load the vans — leave camp at 6:00 AM
- Meet our escort near the Visitors' Center at 6:15 AM, then follow it on the 40-minute drive to the trailhead (Sage Campground, Sweetwater Station, WY 82520)
- 1.Sage Camp Trailhead — Introduction10 min prior
Missionaries guide this meeting — historical background and trekking policies.
Trail Boss assigns a prayer.
- 2.Lower Monument15 min
Overlooks the Sweetwater River. No restrooms.
Thought / storyJens & Elsie Nelson story, then sing the youth theme song “Walk With Me” as a group.Presenter: Jared & Amber Burton - 3.Upper Monument15 min
Top of Rocky Ridge. No restrooms.
Thought / storyJoseph Kirkwood storyPresenter: Tate Stubbs - 4.Lewiston Lakes30–45 min
Restrooms, water, and lunch.
Thought / storyArchibald McPhail story, then sing “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”Presenter: Jed Townsend - 5.Sage Camp Trailhead
Restrooms; unload handcarts, wash and return them to the handcart corral.
After the Aspen Trees, the Trek Coordinator notifies vehicle drivers to return to Sage Camp for pickup. Reload vehicles, turn right onto the Hudson/Atlantic Road, and return to Sixth Crossing.
Evening at camp
- Dinner at 5:30 PM
- Fireside at 7:00 PM — Brother & Sister Lefevre
- Testimony meeting for all trekkers, immediately following the fireside
- Family spiritual thought and evening prayer at 9:45 PM
Saturday · July 18
Rock Creek Hollow & Return Home
- Wear travel clothes (no pioneer clothing needed today)
- Wake up and breakfast at 6:00 AM — done eating by 7:00 AM
- Break camp, 7:00–8:00 AM — pack out all trash (no on-site disposal)
- Return all picnic tables and benches to their original locations
- Leave for Rock Creek Hollow at 8:00 AM
- Closing devotional at 9:30 AM — Rock Creek Hollow Amphitheater. Speakers: Bishop Cooke (President Hinckley’s words on this sacred ground), the Stake Presidency, and Brother & Sister Mineer
- Depart for home at 11:00 AM