The Raft River area approaching Parting of the Ways presented a "worrisome" crossing to the emigrants. They faced many dangers. Elizabeth "Lizzy" Adams was killed at Massacre Rocks. Her grave is on private agricultural land.

Grave site of "Lizzy" Adams, 1999

James A. Pritchard, July 6, 1849

"Within one half mile of our encampment this morning we bid a final adieu to Lewis's fork of the Columbia River and Struck across the hills for some distance, and descended into the bottom of Raft River. It is a small stream with a smooth strong current and gravely bed. We nooned on this stream some 5 or 6 miles above where we first struck it. It is at the crossing of this stream that the Oregon & California roads seperate. Our course was still up raft river, and we crossed it the last time at 4 P M. We continued some 4 ms & found splendid spring that burst out from the base of the Mts, where we found fine grass skirting the margin of the spring branch which sunk in about 400 yards. The Grass was to my wast and of an exelant quality. It was one mile to the right of the road and had not been discovered by any previous Emegrants. This was truly an Oasis in the dessert. Distance 25 ms.

"Elizabeth Adams, who was wounded during the Indian attack near Massacre Rocks on August 9, 1862, succumbed to her wounds near the junction and was buried nearby."

"Mrs. Adams, who was wounded in the fight of the other train, died last night. We buried her this morning. Here some of our train will leave us and take the road to California."

Robert C. Scott, Diary, 1862, Idaho State Historical Society, Boise, Idaho

A small irrigation ditch is all that remains of Raft River near Parting of the Ways, 1999

Henry Tappan, July 23, 1849

"At noon crossed Ford Creek & at night reached Raft River & encamped. Grass good. At this point the two trails diverge for California and Oregon. We met here quite a train taking the Oregon Trail, mostly families."

"The Gold Rush Diary of Henry Tappan," edited by Everett Walters and George B. Strother, Annals of Wyoming, 25:113-139.

Margaret A. Frink, July 15, 1850

"...and in eight miles came to Raft River, a small stream that flowed from the mountains on our left. Here the roads fork again, the right-hand one turning off northwesterly towards Oregon, while we took the left-hand one, going southwesterly towards California, leaving Snake River, and traveling up Raft River..."

"The Journal of Margaret Frink."

Directions: On private land; not available for public viewing.

Must see: Not available for public viewing.

Current Observations/Journal Entry:

"At Parting of the Ways, the Oregon Trail and the California Trail split. The Oregon Trail heads northwest and the California Trail heads southwest; the ruts separate quite dramatically. Larry says, 'those who could read went to Oregon and those who could not went to California.' It is worth remembering that at this point in the journey, the thoughts weighing on the emigrants' minds included crossing the Blue Mountains in Oregon before snow fell. We are stunned that the Raft River is now apparently a ditch for irrigation! Kris takes a photograph for posterity—you can now step across it!"