 Behind me, you can see a majestic rock formation called Devil's Gate. It was formed when the Sweetwater River carved a narrow gorge through the rattlesnake mountains. Devil's Gate is among the more interesting geographical landmarks along the Oregon Trail. The gorge was impassable to wagons, and the trail passed to the south of the ridge, but this dark, gloomy canyon intrigued the immigrants. Many camped here, and almost all took the detourer to inspect the gorge and carve their names in the granite walls. How did it get its name? Well, the best explanation comes from Native American legend. For centuries, the tale was told among the Shoshone and Arapaho that a mighty tusk beast once roamed the valley. This giant devil-like monster had to be dealt with, and prophets told the Indian warriors to destroy the beast. They attacked from the outer ravines, and in the beast's death agony, its massive tusks carved a groove in the mountain range. Thus, Devil's Gate was created. Right off of State Highway 220, the Bureau of Land Management maintains Devil's Gate as a national historic landmark, with a short loop trail and signboards. So the next time you're in this area, make sure you stop off and see this unique landmark. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Ashley Garles, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.