ETSI, p. 58



BLM interpretive kiosk at Bonneville Point, 2001

Winfield S. Ebey, August, 1864

"It was getting late when I reached the top of the Big Hill, around which the road leads to the Plain, which is spread out at its base, almost as far as the eye can reach; broken in the distance by the Mountains in the regions of the Malheur & Burnt Rivers. To the right rose up that majestic Range of mountains, which is the source of the river below, and from which we issued yesterday. Below, thousands of feet below, were seen the water of this beautiful river winding there tranquil course & gleaming like a thread of silver in the rays of the setting sun. The stream seemed as calm and gentle, as if its way was through a meadow, instead of rugged canyons. After reaching the plain, the course of the stream is marked by a line of green timber, which gave rise to its name among the early trappers'Boisse' or the 'Wooded River'. This green strip of vegetation winding its way through the desert sage plain, gave a more cheerful prospect to the view and after gazing once more on the vast map spread out before me I rapidly descended the hill to find a camp for the tired train; but never can the recollection of the grandeur of that scene be blotted from memory... . the sunset from the Big Hill of Boisse will always be a greene spot in the past."

Historic marker at Bonneville Point, 2001

Cecilia Emily McMillan Adams, September 15, 1852

"Today we traveled up a long hill some four miles; road good; ascent very gradual. When we arrived at the top we got a grand view of the Boise river valley. It is all filled or covered with dry grass and a few trees immediately along the bank, the first we have seen for more than a month. We traveled for some four miles on a high level plain then came down a steep hill of about 200 feet to another equally level plain, on which we traveled about three miles, then took another offset of about 100 feet, and in about a mile and a half came to another offset of about the same height, and we were nearly level with the river."

View of Boise Valley from Bonneville Point, 2001

View of Boise Valley from Bonneville Point, 2001


Mayfield, 1999


Looking west from Bonneville Point, 1999

"We traveled about eighteen miles, crossing several running branches. The road is near the base of the mountain; wild sage and grease wood found in plenty. Encamped on Charlotte's fork [Indian Creek], a small branch. [Next day] We traveled about eighteen miles, which brought us to Bois river, a stream of forty or fifty yards in width, and abounding in salmon; its banks are lined with Balm of Gilead timber. The bottoms here are two or three miles wide and covered with grass."
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Must see: BLM interpretive kiosk at Bonneville Point

Current Observations/Journal Entry:

"It was strange to see wooden signs with people's names on them directing travelers; we encounter these wooden arrows at each 'T'- intersection on these dirt roads. I have grown accustomed to the metal road signs in more populated areas! There appear to be four buildings standing in Mayfield now; one is the dance hall, another seems to have been a residence. The dance hall is rectangular, has a shake shingle roof, and a wooden floor; folks used to come from miles away—from Mountain Home—to dance. The Oregon Trail passed through this area. Eventually the site developed into an agricultural community that sold to the surrounding mining towns. The creek is running and there are lots of trees and bushes lining its banks; the birds, butterflies, and grass-hoppers are abundant. There is plenty of barbed wire fence to go around and off in the distance I see some of the Owyhee range—topped with snow. We leave Mayfield for Bonneville Point and pass Robber's Roost, which was another site of a stage robbery. Blacks Creek was a creek in this area and is also the name of a road. Bonneville Point was on an Indian trail before becoming a portion of the Oregon Trail; Captain Bonneville's party reached the area in May of 1833. They exclaimed 'Les Bois, Les Bois' or 'the woods, the woods,' and rightfully so. Not only can I see the Boise River canyon and the trees from here, but the 'black rocks' climbers reference are visible. The marker and interpretive signs are managed by the Bureau of Land Management today; the Kiwanis oversaw the site originally. At this point the emigrants were 1,450 miles from Independence, Missouri. The adobe trading post of Fort Boise lies ahead."

Oregon Trail east of Boise. ISHS #66-4.466