Blacks Fork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blacks Fork |
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| Other name(s) | Blacks Fork of the Green River |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah, Wyoming |
| Cities | Green River, Wyoming, Lyman, Wyoming, Granger, Wyoming |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Uinta Mountains, Utah 40°56′25″N 110°35′19″W / 40.94028°N 110.58861°W |
| River mouth | Flaming Gorge Reservoir Wyoming 41°17′42″N 109°32′06″W / 41.29500°N 109.53500°W |
The Blacks Fork is a river that flows through the states of Utah and Wyoming in the United States. It is about 175 miles (282 kilometers) long. This river is also known as the Blacks Fork of the Green River because it eventually joins the larger Green River. It starts high up in the mountains and has played an important role in the history of the American West.
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Where the River Flows
The Blacks Fork river begins in the Uinta Mountains in Utah. It is formed by three smaller streams that drain the area around Tokewanna Peak. This peak is located near the border between Utah and Wyoming.
Journey Through Wyoming
As the river crosses into Wyoming, it flows into the Meeks Cabin Reservoir. This reservoir is important for storing water. It helps farmers with irrigation and also controls floods.
From the reservoir, the river continues its journey. It flows through the town of Lyman. Here, it meets another river called the Smiths Fork. The Smiths Fork also starts in the Uinta Mountains, just east of the Blacks Fork. It flows alongside the Blacks Fork for most of its path.
The Blacks Fork then continues flowing northeast. It reaches the town of Granger. At Granger, the river meets the Hams Fork, which flows in from the north.
Joining the Green River
After joining the Hams Fork, the Blacks Fork makes a sharp turn to the south. It continues flowing in this direction until it reaches the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This large reservoir is where the Blacks Fork finally joins the Green River. The Green River is a major tributary of the Colorado River.
History of Blacks Fork
The Blacks Fork river was named after a man named Arthur Black. He was a fur trapper who worked in the area in 1824. He was an employee of the Ashley/Henry Company, which was involved in the fur trade.
Fort Bridger
In 1843, a famous mountain man named Jim Bridger and his partner Louis Vasquez built a trading post on the Blacks Fork. This post was located near where the town of Lyman, Wyoming, is today. It became known as Fort Bridger.
Fort Bridger quickly became a very popular stop. Many pioneers traveling west used this post. It was an important resting place along the Oregon Trail and the California Trail. Later, it also marked a special point for the Mormon Trail. This was where the Mormon Trail left the other two trails and continued into Utah.
