Windlass Hill — Attraction in Oshkosh

I loved seeing Windlass Hill. I had just recently heard about it and when I was out in the Scottsbluff area, I just had to visit it. It was so beautiful, peaceful and interesting. I am so intrigued by the Pioneers and all they experienced. It was really neat to see this hill and the signage telling about it. I would highly recommend it! Windlass Hill is just a couple miles south of Ash Hollow Visitors Center Park. That park was huge, beautiful and very peaceful. Unfortunately I didn't arrive when the Visitors Center was open and I think it would've been really neat to go in and look around. So make sure and check the hours and try to go when it's open. But even while it was closed, it was still a neat place to drive around and view the beautiful park and countryside. I happened to meet a Mountain Man, as I was leaving. He works at the park and talked to me, answered my questions and he was so cool!! He really looked the part, was very knowledgeable, and seemed so kind. It was so interesting listening to him. Ash Hollow Park has a real gem with him! As he was telling me some of the history of the park and the Pioneers, he alerted me to listen. There were lots of coyotes in the distance howling at each other!! This was a really neat experience! So haunting, so beautiful and nature at its truest. My dog Gracie had her head out of the car window and was listening intently to the howling!! Highly recommend Windlass Hill and Ash Hollow State Park &...

I am following different sections of the Oregon Trail in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. This legendery spot is a must stop if you are interested in the challenging journey of the emigrants to California and Oregon. Windlass Hill is a turnoff south of the Ash Hollow State Historical Park entrance. The parking lot has an informative display and signs pointing to Oregon and California. It was quite a steep climb on a concrete path up the hill to the top. There were benches toward the top of the hill. There is a grand view of the surrounding area and you can also see the old wagon ruts embedded into the hill. It must have been terrifying for the pioneers trying to keep their heavy wagons and the animals pulling them from careening too quickly down the hill and crashing at the bottom. From the book, The Oregon Trail Revisited, author Gregory Franzwa described the descent, "Riders led their horses, wheels were locked and chained, front wheel to back wheel. Two mules were crushed when one wagon escaped even...

I see they had a cover over the kiosk wagon. When I went this place was deserted. I hiked the very steep trail thinking I would see the wagon wheel prints but only found trail markers. I wish there was a trail sign that told mileage and difficulty level for visitors. I am an avid hiker but the average person or people with kids or disabilities will not be able to hike that trail. After hiking I did see the small sign at the beginning of trail (to the right) that said wagon wheel trail marks but again I had to look closely around to figure out where they were. Nice history lesson but for after hours that place needs to help visitors find their way around and not have them waste time looking around to figure out whats what. Otherwise nice place to visit. P.S. there is no visitor center at this location only a informational kiosk and...