Four days in Wyoming. Walking together with the Savior, with our families, and in the footsteps of the pioneers.
Behold, my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.
— Moses 6:34
The most important times to mark on your calendar. Save this page or screenshot this section.
Youth drop personal gear at the Stake Center. Bring everything except your day pack & lunch.
Youth check in, find their family, and load up. Buses leave for Martin's Cove shortly after.
Buses pull in at the Stake Center. Plan to help unpack until about 5:00 PM.
A high-level overview of what to expect. More detailed timing and instructions will be shared with leaders and adult volunteers as Trek gets closer.
Here's what your youth will be doing on trek — the experiences, the testimonies, and the memories.
Hike into the sheltered ravine where rescuers brought the Martin Company in November 1856. Time for reflection and photos.
Trek at Sixth Crossing and through Martin's Cove with your trek family — pushing and pulling a handcart over the same Wyoming trail the pioneers walked.
Wade across the same Sweetwater River the pioneers forded — then stick around to splash and play in the water. One of the most memorable moments of the whole trek.
A short devotional at the granite landmark where pioneers tried to arrive by July 4th to stay on schedule for the Salt Lake Valley.
An old-fashioned hoe down with country music to dance to. Yes, you'll learn how to dance pioneer style.
Stick pull, tug-of-war, horseshoes, sack races — the games pioneers played in camp, with the friendly rivalry to match.
Daily devotionals at meaningful trail stops, quiet reflection time, and journaling. Space to listen to the Spirit.
Real stories of real people — the names, the children, the rescuers — told at the places where the stories actually happened.
A sacred testimony meeting on Wednesday evening — one of the most spiritual experiences of trek.
Meals, devotionals, breakouts, and downtime with your trek family — led by your called Ma and Pa. Most youth say their trek family becomes the best part.
Specific daily timing is set by family leaders and trek captains on the trail.
Our purpose is not to reenact the hardships the Willie and Martin pioneers endured. We can never truly recreate what they faced, and we don't try to.
Instead, we walk in their footsteps to better understand why they did what they did — why they sacrificed what they sacrificed — and how we can emulate their faith and dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ in our own lives.
Walk With Me. Our theme echoes the Savior's invitation to walk with Him — it's also the 2026 youth theme for the Church.
Learn the Willie & Martin story →Small steps each week lead to a powerful experience. Use this guide as a family and have fun preparing together.
Watch all three as part of your "Build Habits" week. Click any video to play it here.
Put your name on everything with a permanent black marker. Because of weight and space limits on the handcart, you're restricted to the items below.
Print it out and check off items as you pack.
Every youth must turn in a signed 2026 trek release form to their bishopric no later than May 31, 2026. Without a signed release on file, your youth cannot attend trek.
Download, print, sign, and turn in to your bishopric. If your ward has a different process, ask your bishop or your ward's trek committee.
Don't see your question here? Reach out to the stake leaders below.
Trek is a four-day youth experience where we travel to Wyoming, dress in pioneer or western clothing, and walk parts of the Mormon Trail at Sixth Crossing and Martin's Cove. Youth are organized into "families" led by trained adult ma's and pa's. Together we pull handcarts, share devotionals, hold testimony meetings, sing, and reflect on the faith of the Willie and Martin handcart pioneers.
No. We're not trying to reenact the hardships the pioneers endured — we couldn't if we tried, and we don't want to. Our goal is to walk in their footsteps so we can better understand why they sacrificed what they did, and how we can emulate their faith and dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ in our own lives. Safety, hydration, and well-being come first the entire trek.
Pioneer-era clothing is welcome but not required. At minimum we recommend "western" attire — cowboy hats, button-up shirts, broken-in hiking shoes, and a handkerchief. Modest and layered is the rule of thumb.
No jeans — lightweight hiking pants or long skirts are strongly recommended. Jeans get heavy and stay wet for hours after the river crossing.
Arrive wearing your trek outfit on Monday morning and bring at least one extra set. If your family wants help putting an outfit together, reach out to the Young Men's or Young Women's presidency.
Phones are allowed on trek, but plan for them to mostly stay off. There is no place to charge them on trek, cell service at Martin's Cove is very limited and unreliable, and most importantly, youth are asked to stay present in the experience — that's how they'll get the most out of it. Phones should be used sparingly, not as a constant tether to home. Leaders carry phones and two-way radios for emergencies and communication when cell service isn't available. Parents will be updated through stake leadership channels.
Bring all prescription medications clearly labeled in their original containers. On Day 1, give them to the medical staff for safekeeping. Trek medical staff will manage scheduled doses with your youth throughout the trek.
List all food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary needs on the trek registration / medical form. Reach out directly to the stake presidency contacts below to confirm we have your youth's needs in our planning, especially for severe allergies (gluten, nuts, dairy, etc.).
The total walking distance across the two trek days is about 13 miles — roughly 6.5 miles per day, split between Sixth Crossing and Martin's Cove. That's pulling and pushing a handcart over uneven ground at altitude (both sites sit above 6,000 feet). It's a real workout but very doable for healthy youth. Start breaking in your hiking shoes now, hydrate well in the weeks leading up, and take some longer walks as preparation. Youth with health concerns should talk with their bishop and the stake medical lead in advance.
Hot and dry days, cool nights, and a real chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and a rain poncho or heavy-duty plastic bags are non-negotiable. Layers are key — mornings and evenings can be cold even in July.
Yes — on both trek days. Bring a separate pair of water shoes for crossings and a plastic sack to store the wet shoes afterward. Don't wear your walking shoes through the water.
Youth are grouped into "trek families" with a Ma and Pa (called and prepared adult leaders), plus a balanced mix of boys and girls and ages. Families pull and push a handcart together and share meals, devotionals, and reflection time together.
The stake has a trained medical team on trek with us, communication plans, and quick evacuation routes from each site. If there is an emergency at home, parents should call the stake presidency contacts below — not their youth directly — and we'll get the message to your youth quickly.
Totally fine. Trek is designed so first-time campers are well supported. Trek families and adult leaders will help your youth learn what they need on site. Just make sure they arrive with all the items on the packing list.
Only as called leaders (Ma, Pa, medical, support staff, etc.). Trek is a youth-and-leader experience — siblings and uncalled parents do not attend.
Reach out to the Stake Young Men's or Young Women's presidency — their contact info is below.
For trek-specific questions, reach out directly. For ward-specific questions, talk to your bishop or your ward's trek committee.