Traverse Mountains

The Traverse Mountains are an east-trending range that separates Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley in the State of Utah. The eastern section of the range is often called Traverse Mountain and is split between the cities of Lehi and Draper. The western section of the range is part of the Camp Williams training site. The Jordan River runs north-south to dissect this two sections at the Jordan Narrows.

Brief History

The flanks of the Traverse Mountains are etched by the shorelines and deposits of Lake Bonneville; an ice age lake that once covered Salt Lake and Utah Valleys. This mountainous terrain with river valley below sustained life for the Goshute and Ute Indian tribes and many native wildlife species for thousands of years.

The traverse range found itself as a crossroads after the Mormon pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley (1847) and United States Army established Camp Floyd (1858-1863) only a few miles to the south in Cedar Valley. While it remained traditional grounds for American Indians, Homesteaders also began to embrace the western traverse’s fertile foothill valleys for agriculture and westerly travelers passed through on the Pony Express and stagecoach trails that crossed the Jordan Narrows.

The area surrounding the current Camp Williams was used for military training purposes going back into the late 1800’s. Water producing springs on Camp Williams provided a steady source of water for their horses and the terrain was ideal for military training.

In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson withdrew 18,700 acres south of Salt Lake City from the public domain by Executive Order and designated them specifically for military purpose. The boundaries have changed over the years and, as of 2022, there are approximately 23,500 acres of property in the training area West of Redwood Road.