Fort Bonneville
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Mountain Man Fort — Site of Captain Bonneville’s 1832 fur trade fort — where Washington Irving’s famous book brought the Rocky Mountain fur trade to life
Fort Bonneville is the site of a fur trading post built by Captain Benjamin Bonneville in 1832 on Horse Creek near the Green River — one of the most storied locations of the Rocky Mountain fur trade. Bonneville’s adventures were immortalized by Washington Irving in “The Adventures of Captain Bonneville” (1837), which became a bestseller and introduced Americans to the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The annual Green River Rendezvous (1825–1840) — held nearby — was the legendary gathering where mountain men, fur traders, and Native Americans met to trade, compete, and celebrate.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Sublette County, WY (Green River!) |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Year | 1832 — Mountain Man era! |
| Book | Washington Irving bestseller 1837! |
About Fort Bonneville
Fort Bonneville preserves the site of Captain Benjamin Bonneville’s 1832 fur trade outpost near present-day Daniel in Sublette County. Bonneville — a French-born U.S. Army officer — established the fort on the Green River as a base for Rocky Mountain fur trade operations. Washington Irving immortalized his adventures in “The Adventures of Captain Bonneville” (1837). The fort sat at the crossroads of the fur trade, where mountain men gathered for the annual rendezvous.
Things to Do
Viewing the fort site and interpretive markers, fishing the Green River, exploring the Upper Green River Valley where fur trappers once gathered, and connecting to the broader Mountain Man heritage trail through western Wyoming.
Insider Tips
Fur trade era: Fort Bonneville (1832) was built by Captain Benjamin Bonneville during the Rocky Mountain fur trade — Washington Irving wrote a book about his adventures. Pro tip: The fur trade era (1820s-1840s) was the first American commercial enterprise in the West — mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson explored the Rockies. Wind River: The fort sat near the Wind River Range — one of Wyoming’s most spectacular mountain ranges.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Best access to the site. Fall: Wind River Range foliage. Spring: Green-up on the plains. Year-round: Interpretive markers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the fur trade?
The Rocky Mountain fur trade (1820s-1840s) sent “mountain men” into the wilderness to trap beaver — beaver pelts were enormously valuable for European hat-making. Annual “Rendezvous” gatherings brought trappers, traders, and Native Americans together. The trade collapsed when silk hats replaced beaver felt in the 1840s. But the mountain men had mapped the West — their trails became emigrant roads to Oregon and California.
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