"About 12 o'clk we reach Castle Creek so called from some singular looking rocks having the appearance of old dilapidated castles and other ruins - soon Capt. K's [Kennedy] train arrives and Corrals near us - After remaining an hour & a half we are ordered to hitch up & drive on a mile or so for better grass...we comply & find grass higher than our heads & just abreast of the Castle rock - on the other side of the corral runs the creek a small crooked stream 5 Sep 62 I should have men-tioned yesterday that it is said the Indians two years ago beseiged a party of 30 or 35 men on the very spot on which we were corralled & killed all but three after a 3 day fight - some report seeing nearly a whole skeleton on the ground - I myself saw a skull & probably could havefound more by searching."

Henry M. Judson, Diary of 1862, Omaha to Oregon, NbHi.


Riley Root - 1848

"19 miles , over a very level plain, most of the way, and near to the river, to camp, on Grease Wood [Castle] creek, about a mile above its mouth. No good camp can be had along this day's route, till our present one, which is not very good. Between camp and Snake River, the little stream in which our camp is located passes through two crags of basaltic rock [Castle Butte], much crumbled down by time. Rock, east of creek, shows marks of excessive volcanic violence. Volcanic cinders, rocks half melted, chimneys where smoke had issued, and in fact, every make of Vulcan's blacksmith shop is here displayd."

BLM Series #2, pg. 62

Directions: Off Hwy 78 between Grandview and Murphy

Must See: Natural features of Castle Butte and Wild Horse Butte

Current Observations/Journal Entry:

"The emigrants camped at Castle Butte in September, usually. The landmark stands out against the surrounding terrain; the stone looks black and against the tan surroundings it really catches the eye. Another natural feature, Wild Horse Butte (a mesa to the west), casts a shadow on Henderson Flat."