This spring, the museums in Davis County honored the indigenous people who lived here before the early pioneers. The Farmington Museum located on 110 Main Street sponsored a hike recently to see the Indian Princess grave on the hillside above and to the north of Farmington Pond. Tia Trevino acted as the guide on the tour that met in the upper, dirt parking lot of Farmington Pond. Heading toward the Canyon, the lot is about 100 East and 800 North. 

The hike begins on a paved trail that immediately crosses Farmington Creek. Raging water fills the creek under the bridge before it empties into Farmington Pond. After the bridge, the slope to be climbed is directly ahead crisscrossed with trails and a choice to go straight up the slope scrambling up a rocky trail. The tour took the easy route traversing the mountain a few times. A Bigfoot bronze statue has been known to reside on the west side of the slope, but currently a sign states that he is laid up with a broken foot. “Believe in yourself even when no one else will” is inscribed near his usual spot. At the top of the slope, a large reservoir of water is directly ahead. Walk on the east side of the reservoir along a dirt road. Don’t get too comfortable on the road though, or else you will pass below the correct trail and miss the gravesite. At the end of the reservoir, turn to the right and make your way to the trail above the road along the hillside heading North. An amazing vista of the Valley and Antelope Island will open. The guide pointed out a flat spot near the new freeway interchange where foundations for Native American Teepees can be found. She also talked about the pictographs on the Parrish Creek Trail and the nearby Medicine Wheel that is a large circle with spokes formed with rocks that is easily seen when the grass is short. The sacred hoop is used for health and healing for Native American tribes. Harmony and balance that can lead to a good life. 

About a half a mile further along the side of the mountain, a large field of rocks will be seen on the right, just south of an electrical tower. Here you will find a plaque cemented into a prominent rock in the field announcing that this is the burial site of the daughter and grandchild of Little Soldier, a Goshute/Shoshone chief. Here Trevino told the story of the Indian Princess who rejected the medicine man and chose a warrior to wed. The medicine man cursed the princess stating that she would die in childbirth. This occurred and her body was carried to the sacred burial place through Salt Lake City in about 1861. Upon arriving at the field of rocks, the princess’s favorite horse was slaughtered to be buried with her. The chief, Little Soldier, also demanded that the living baby of his daughter be buried with her. The grandmother pleaded for the baby’s life, but the chief told her to desist, or she would also be buried with her daughter. The 25-foot breadth of the rock field suggests that other Native Americans have been laid to rest at the site. The whole hike, there and back, is 1.75 miles with an elevation gain of 345 feet. It has little shade, so on an overcast day, sunblock, or a hat would be useful.

 The museum is open on Wednesdays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.