Page "Massacre Rocks State Park" Paragraph 2

The park features a famous configuration of boulders along the south bank of the Snake River along the trail, known alternatively as Massacre Rocks, " Gate of Death ", or " Devil's Gate ".

Emigrants gave this name to the narrow passage of the trail through the rocks, from the fear of possible ambush by Native Americans.

According to diaries of emigrants, settlers in five wagons clashed with Shoshoni just east of the rocks on August 9 – 10, 1862.

Ten emigrants died in the fight, which involved four wagon trains.

The skirmishes took place east of the park and not at Devil's Gate as commonly believed.

Some confrontations may have occurred there, but they remain unverified.

The Clark Massacre of 1851 occurred just west of Massacre Rocks, closer to the Raft River.