The History of Modern Youth Pioneer Trek
The first organized youth handcart trek, known as ‘ Pioneer Trek” which is a reenactment of the crossing os Saints on what is know as the Mormon Pioneer Trail, took place in 1966. Young men from the Phoenix Stake in Arizona built handcarts, transported them to Utah, and then walked them across the mountains. However, the modern-day tradition or trek reenactments is generally attributed to the 1997 Mormon Pioneer Trail Sesquicentennial Celebration. As part of a broader effort by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help youth connect with their pioneer heritage in a hands-on. Here's a brief history and context:
The Historical Pioneer Trek (1846–1869)
The original Mormon "trek" refers to the westward migration of members of the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley, led by Brigham Young. Over 70,000 pioneers peacefully and with very little ill effect crossed the plains between 1846 and 1869, many of them on foot or pulling handcarts. The most famous and most talked about were the handcart companies that endured tremendous hardship and loss. They were known as the Willie and Martin handcart companies.
Early Commemorations (1950s–1970s)
While the Church always celebrated its pioneer heritage (especially on Pioneer Day, July 24), organized reenactments for youth were rare. Some families or local congregations may have organized informal hikes or activities related to pioneer stories.
🥾 Beginning of Youth "Pioneer Trek" Programs
The 1980s–1990s: Formalizing the Practice
The modern “Pioneer Trek” experience began gaining traction in the 1980s and early 1990s, especially in the Western U.S., as church leaders sought to give teenagers a faith-building experience rooted in sacrifice, teamwork, and testimony.Typical Pioneer Trek Activities
Youth dress in pioneer-style clothing, form temporary “families,” and pull handcarts over miles of rugged terrain—often on historical trails or local land. The experience usually includes:Pioneer stories and reenactments
Moments of spiritual reflection or testimony
Symbolic events like the “Women’s Pull” (representing times when pioneer women had to carry on without their husbands)
Church Support and Growth (2000s–Present)
By the early 2000s, Trek had become a common youth activity, particularly for those aged 14 to 18. The Church began offering resources and guidelines through official channels, ensuring safety and spiritual focus. While not mandated, Treks are now common in stakes (regional church units) around the world, especially in North America.
Purpose and Message
Trek is meant to:
Honor the faith and sacrifice of early Latter-day Saints
Help modern youth build testimonies through symbolic sacrifice and unity
Strengthen family values and intergenerational understanding
Provide a memorable, unplugged retreat in nature
Frequently Asked Questions:
In what months are treks allowed at the site?
End of May through mid-August. Trekking typically begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day and runs for 12 weeks.
What is the cost?
$15 per person, including all adult trekkers, leaders, staff members—even if they do not walk the trail. This fee is the same regardless of the length of the trek. The fee will be withdrawn from unit funds.
How many participants can be in one group?
The site accommodates groups up to 600 people. Groups will be divided into subgroups of 150 people for trekking at Martin’s Cove and Sixth Crossing. Groups will be divided into subgroups of 300 for trekking at Rocky Ridge. Each subgroup will start on the trail an hour apart. Some of the trek itineraries are not available for all group sizes.
How many handcarts are available?
The site will provide up to 15 handcarts for every trek of 150 people. It is recommended that 6-10 people be assigned per handcart.
Do missionaries accompany us on the trek?
Yes, two missionaries accompany each trek group on the trails. The missionaries set the pace for the group.
If you want missionaries to tell stories along the trail (either in addition to or instead of members of your own group preparing stories to share), please communicate this to the trek coordinators prior to your arrival.
Additional Pioneer Trek History Details
The migration of 19th-century Latter-day Saints, which began in 1846 from Illinois and continued through Iowa and Nebraska to a final refuge in the Rocky Mountains, stands as one of the most extraordinary chapters in America’s westward expansion. Unlike the thousands of settlers journeying to California or Oregon in search of prosperity, the Latter-day Saints were driven westward by necessity — expelled from Missouri and Illinois by hostile neighbors and rising persecution. In the years that followed, their trail would be traveled by thousands of European converts seeking religious freedom and a new beginning.
After the assassination of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1844, tensions escalated in Nauvoo, Illinois — which was then the largest city in the state. Facing mounting threats, Church leaders recognized the urgent need to relocate. They first established a temporary haven known as Winter Quarters, near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. Then, in 1847, under the leadership of Brigham Young, the first group of pioneers set out into the unknown West. Upon arriving in the arid Salt Lake Valley that summer, Young surveyed the barren land and declared, “This is the right place.”
In 1849, President Young created the Perpetual Emigration Fund to aid impoverished converts in making the journey to Utah. The fund enabled roughly 30,000 immigrants from Britain, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands to emigrate — comprising more than a third of all Latter-day Saint converts who left Europe during that period.
To reduce costs associated with wagons and oxen, the Church introduced the use of wooden handcarts — a simpler, more affordable method of travel. Each cart, pulled by a small family or group of five, carried no more than 200 pounds of supplies, amounting to about 17 pounds of personal belongings per person. Organized companies shared tents, followed experienced leaders, and were accompanied by supply wagons pulled by oxen.
The first handcart company departed Iowa City on June 9, 1856, with 266 English immigrants, followed closely by a second group of just over 200. Though early handcart treks succeeded, they were grueling. Diaries from the trail recount hardships ranging from severe weather and illness to hunger, exhaustion, and the loss of fellow travelers.
A devastating chapter unfolded later that same year when the Willie and Martin handcart companies, totaling nearly 1,000 people, left too late in the season. Caught in a brutal October snowstorm on the high plains of Wyoming, the companies were beset by freezing temperatures, dwindling supplies, and exhaustion. Over 200 lives were lost to starvation and exposure before rescuers from Salt Lake City arrived in a desperate, heroic effort to save the survivors.
Whether traveling by wagon or handcart, thousands of pioneers perished along the trail. Many were buried in unmarked, shallow graves—some children, never to be visited again.
Between 1847 and 1869, until the completion of the transcontinental railroad, an estimated 70,000 Latter-day Saints undertook the journey to Utah. The pioneer experience remains deeply woven into the identity of Latter-day Saints. Their sacrifice is commemorated not only in family stories but also in Church meetings and youth reenactments — a living legacy of faith, endurance, and devotion.