Handcart Treks
About Handcart Treks
Handcart treks are a popular way to build camaraderie and testimony of the dedication of the pioneers. They can be designed to be short and fun or longer and more challenging. Camp Liahona provides facilities for handcart treks on farm tracks through 2,500 acres of level cropland in the fens of East Anglia. Ten handcarts are available for group use. There are two designated camp sites with toilet facilities, one at Camp Liahona and the other at Church Farm. Church Farm has no facilities other than the toilets and an unfurnished lunch room built into part of a large cart shed dating back to the late 1800’s. It also has a nice grassy area for tents. Fires may be built only on the cement pad, and all remains must be cleared away.
Trek Routes
The trek routes have been designed to stay on Church owned land and avoid busy public roads wherever possible. There is a crossing of Southery Road both in and out bound, and a segment along a public river bank. Single lane farm tracks are in use by large farm vehicles. Treks should be prepared to pull onto the verge, or use one of the passing points if a vehicle needs to pass. Most of the time, farm vehicles will park on the verge to allow traffic to pass. Most traffic is between 7 am and 5 pm. Under no circumstances should trekkers attempt to cross agricultural fields which may or may not be planted. The fenlands will not support narrow wheels, and trekkers would literally be “bogged down.”
There are two mapped trek routes through the farm. The outbound route from Camp Liahona to Church Farm is 8.4 miles. The inbound route from Church Farm back to Liahona is 6.2 miles. There is a rest stop at a storage barn near a large reservoir about half way where both routes cross.
For those wanting to try a short trek, there is a half mile path around the perimeter of Camp Liahona.
Liahona Handcart Treks does not provide water on the trek routes. There is potable water at Camp Liahona and at Church Farm. Trekkers must carry their own containers and refill them at these points. Water at the reservoir rest stop is NOT potable since it is from the reservoir.
Please contact the Camp Directors and discuss trek routes and other issues before booking a trek.
Other Resources
Here is a link to the LDS Church's Safety Guidelines for Handcart Trek Youth Activities.
Here is a download of the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites in Wyoming: Handbook for Trek Leaders.
The HandCartTreks.com web site also has a number of useful downloads which can be found here.
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