40 acres along the Historic Hastings Cutoff - Scenic Eastern Nevada land

Scenic and Historical

• SIZE: 40.37+/- ac 
• APN#: 075-004-029
• LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Mountain Meadows Ranches Parcel 429; T35N, R70E MDB&M, sec. 17
• STATE: Nevada
• COUNTY: Elko
• GENERAL LOCATION:   12 miles North of IH 80. Between the Pilot Mountains and Utah State Line. About 2 miles West of Utah State Line     
• GPS (approx.): 40.914135, -114.083177 see document section for GPS maps
• GENERAL ELEVATION: approx. 4300'-4360'
• GENERAL INFORMATION: Borders BLM on 3 sides. Camp, RV, build, Mobile, Modulars, site builds allowed. Check with the county for your intended usage. Hastings Cutoff Historical info link
• TYPE OF TERRAIN: rolling-slight easterly facing slope
• ZONING: ag
• POWER: no
• PHONE: no
• WATER: Must install well if you build
• SEWER: No. Only needed when/if you build.
• ROADS: Pilot Peak road- hard packed graded
• PROPERTY TAX: approx. $78 a year  
• CLOSING/DOC. FEES: $135  
• TIME LIMIT TO BUILD: none
• ASSOCIATION DUES: NONE
• TITLE INFORMATION: Free and clear 
• If/when more info becomes available we will update listing

FINANCING INFO and PURCHASE INFO

Go to 1881.com Area Land page

The Hastings Cutoff was an alternative route for westward emigrants to travel to California, as proposed by Lansford Hastings in The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California. The ill-fated Donner Party infamously took the route in 1846. Hastings himself did not travel the cutoff prior to writing the guide. The Hastings Cutoff was opened to travel by Lansford Hastings in 1846. It was promoted to save up to 400 miles in going to California.

The Hastings Cutoff is a historic route in Elko County, Nevada, once used by emigrants during the California Gold Rush. First traveled in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell party and later guided by Lansford Hastings in 1846, it became infamous for its dangers, most notably the tragedy of the Donner Party, who faced starvation and despair while trapped in the High Sierras. By 1850, the route’s perilous conditions were well known, leading to its abandonment. Stretching nearly 90 miles across northeastern Nevada, it enters near Wendover, runs parallel to Interstate 80, and reconnects with the California Trail west of Elko. A Nevada State Historic Marker along Interstate 80 commemorates the route, and topographic maps are available for those interested in exploring the area.

From Pilot Peak/Donner Springs, the Hastings Cutoff traveled into present day Nevada. Hastings took the wagons from one spring to another to the Ruby Mountains He traveled south through the Ruby Valley and crossed the Ruby Mountains at Overland Pass. Next he turned north along Huntington Creek drainage and eventually went through the South Fork Humboldt River canyon, connecting with the California Trail west of present day Elko, Nevada.

Portions of the Hasting Cutoff in Nevada where traveled by the 1841 Bidwell-Bartleson Party to find an overland wagon route to California and the 1845 Fremont Expedition (Talbot-Walker Party)

The 1846 parties that traveled the Cutoff were, the Bryant-Russell pack party, Harlan-Young party of 40 wagons, another 20 wagons of the loosely organized Hoppe company, and the ill fated Donner-Reed wagon train.

Even after the Donner Party tragedy, memories were short when it came to the gold rush. The Hastings Cutoff was used in 1849 and in 1850 as a relatively large number of gold seekers took their chances on the cutoff, usually with disappointment at finding out that they had actually lengthened their travel time to the gold fields.

After the 1850 surge of gold seekers, the word was out on the hardships and the additional travel time on taking this route.

The most direct route, for the California emigrants, would be to leave the Oregon route, about two hundred miles east from Fort Hall; thence bearing West Southwest, to the Salt Lake; and thence continuing down to the bay of St. Francisco, by the route just described.

The cutoff left the Oregon Trail at Fort Bridger in Wyoming, passed through the Wasatch Range, across the Great Salt Lake Desert, an 80-mile nearly water-less drive, looped around the Ruby Mountains, and rejoined the California Trail about seven miles west of modern Elko (also Emigrant Pass).

Hastings led a small party overland late in 1845 and spent the winter in California. Significantly, his stay at Sutter's Fort coincided with a visit by John C. Frémont, who had just explored the Great Salt Lake Desert and whose letter describing a new route to California would be widely published in Eastern newspapers. In April, Hastings set out with a few companions to meet the emigration of 1846. He stayed in the vicinity of the Sweetwater River while an eastbound traveler carried his open letter inviting emigrants on the California Trail to meet him at Fort Bridger. Between 60 and 75 wagons did so and traveled with Hastings on his cutoff. They endured a difficult descent down Weber Canyon,[3] a waterless drive of 80 miles across the Great Salt Lake Desert, and a lengthy detour around the Ruby Mountains. Despite the usual trials of overland travel, they arrived safely in California.

thanks to Wikipedia and California Nevada Chapter of Oregon-California Trails association and Historical Marker data base