Hooper Spring was known to the mountain men as "Beer Springs" because they felt that the water would inebriate them.

"Water stop at Hooper Spring is funny; another traveler and I drink the water as it bubbles up from the ground; I am nervous in today's times that the water will have ill effects even though all the site signs and my traveling companions assure me it is safe to drink. It reminds me of mineral water and tastes like rust! We finally spy a deer—it jumps the fence; we have been disappointed in not seeing much wildlife (larger animals anyway)."

SODA SPRINGS


Soda Springs, 1882. ISHS #78-130.40

Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, July 30, 1836

"Went today ten miles off our route with Husband Mr. McLeod & a few others, to visit Soda Springs. Was much delighted with the view of the wonders of Nature we saw there. The first object of curiosity we came to were several white mounds on the top of which were small springs of soda. These mounds were covered with a crustation made from the evaporation of the water which is continually running in small quantities from these springs. The next object we saw was a little singular. It consisted of an opening like a crater about three feet in diameter, by the side of a small stream. On some rocks a little below in the opening were dead flies & birds in abundance which had approached so near the crater, as to be choked with the gas which it constantly emits. On putting the face down, the breath is stoped instantly, & a low rumbling noise like the roaring of fire is heard beneath. Having satisfied our curiosity here we passed through a grove of juniper & pitch pine trees, & a small distance from them came to a large spring of soda water. Clear as crystal, effervescing continually. It appeared of great depth. At considerable distance below the surface, there were two white substances, in appearance like lumps of Soda in a concrete state. We took with us some soda & Acid to try the effect of a mixture & found that it effervesced with both, but the effervescence was greater with the Acid, than with the Soda. Drunk freely of the water, found it very pleasant. There were five or six other spring near Bear River which we did not visit, in consequence of loosing sight of our company & being obliged to hasten back."

Sarah White Smith, July 24, 1838

"Travelled about 22 miles along the bank of the Bear river & are encamped at Soda Springs. This is indeed a curiosity. The water tastes like soda water, especially artificially prepared. The water is bubbling & foaming like boiling water. I drank of it. It produced a little sickness. We find it excellent for making bread, no preparation of water is necessary. take it from the fountain & the bread is as light as any prepared with yeast."

Soda Springs Geyser, historic view. ISHS #3292. Color view, 1999

The Oregon Trail followed the Bear River in and around Soda Springs; the river bends south at Soda Point.

Current Observations/Journal Entry:

"At 8:17 am on 6/29/99 we stop to see the geyser in Soda Springs. Though this is not something the emigrants would have experienced, we choose to take it in as an example of the evolution of the site. The geyser came in to existence on November 30, 1937; the city was looking for a thermal source of water and tapped into it. The spray and mist extend a good 50 feet; it smells of sulfur, and the deposits that ring the mouth of the geyser are the same color as the 'Paint Pots' in Banff, Canada, an orangish brownish color, almost metallic. The geyser lasts 9 minutes."

Bruff sketch, used with permission

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Thomas Jefferson Farnham, August 31, 1839

"One forth of a mile down stream from the Soda Spring, is what is called 'The Steamboat Spring.' The orifice from which it casts its water is in the face of a perpendicular rock on the brink of the stream, which seems to have been formed by the depositions of the fountain. It is eight inches in diameter. Six feet from this, and on the horizontal plane of the rock, is another orifice in the cavern below. On approaching the spring, a deep gurgling, hissing sound is heard underground. It appears to be produced by the generating of gas in a cavernous receiver. This, when the chamber is filled, bursts through another cavern filled with water, which it thrusts frothing and foaming into the stream. In passing the smaller orifice, the pent gas escapes with very much the same sound as steam makes in the escape-pipe of a steamboat. Hence the name.

"The most remarkable phenomenon connected with these springs, remains yet to be noticed. The whole river, from the Steamboat spring to the Soda Springs, (a distance of more than a fourth of a mile), is a sheet of springs, thousands in number, which bursting through two feet of superincumbent running water, throw their foaming jets, some six inches, and some less, above the surface. The water is much the same in its constituent qualities, as that of Soda Springs."

Alexander Reservoir, 1999

E. W. Conyers, July 22, 1852

"The water in this [Steamboat Springs] spring is emitted through an oblong crevice in a large, flat rock of basalt formation. The water in this spring recedes for a few minutes until no water can be seen in the crevice, and within a few minutes more the water begins to flow again, continually gaining in force and finally emitting the water with great force to the height of about four feet and making a noise resembling Steam escaping from an exhaust pipe—hence called Steamboat Spring. One of our company, R. L. Doyle, made a wager that he could stop the flow of water from this spring by sitting on the crevice. He waited until the water began to recede, then took off his pants and seated himself on the crevice. In this position he waited for the flow. He did not have to wait very long for the flow. It came gradually at first, but increased in force every moment. Doyle soon began bobbing up and down at a fearful rate. At this stage of the fun several of the boys took hold of Doyle and tried to hold him on the crevice, but in this they failed, for the more weight they added to Doyle and more power the spring seemed to have, and Doyle kept on bobbing up and down like a cork. Finally Doyle cried out: 'Boys, there is no use trying to hold the devil down. It can't be did, for the more weight you put on the more the devil churns me. I am now pounded into a beefsteak."

Steamboat Springs was a site or landmark where the emigrants stopped for hot water and clothes washing. Alexander reservoir has flooded or covered a good part of Steamboat Springs.

Directions: East off of I-15 on Hwy 30 to Soda Springs and Steamboat Springs. Continue north on Hwy 34 and follow signs to Hooper Springs.

Must see: Oregon Trail Park on the shores of Alexander Reservoir.

Current Observations/Journal Entry:

"We stop in an Idaho Parks & Recreation park (complete with boat launch) for taking photographs. It is cloudy and cool; we are the only humans in the park. There are, however, numerous white pelicans."