Handcart adventures have become popular for groups seeking an educational summer experience. Trouble is, there are few spots where treks can be scheduled this year.

Groups being turned away from the traditional Mormon Handcart Trail in Wyoming because of recent environmental assessment findings can find a similar experience at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville, Cache County.

For the first time in its 33 years of operation, the center is offering half-day to five-day handcart treks to groups of up to 60. Treks can be customized to meet the needs of travelers, allowing for more physical, spiritual or inspirational emphasis.

"We've been researching the possibility of this for a number of years and with our ties to the Willie family and the quality of programs that we offer, the Wyoming handcart sites are very supportive," said chief operating officer, Matt Dahl. The reference is to the Martin and Willie handcart companies that were stranded in Wyoming when premature severe weather caused tragedy in the companies as they traveled west in 1856.

With The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints scaling back the number of visitors and the number of vehicles allowed to use the historic trail near Martin's Cove in Wyoming, the need has arisen for new locations to pull a handcart.

"We knew there was a growing demand for handcart treks when we began developing this program a few years ago," said Ronda Thompson, executive director of the AWHC. "But our goal, beyond simply offering people a chance to pull a handcart, is to provide an experience that allows visitors to feel what the pioneers felt, and to learn the history of handcart treks as well as the settling of Utah."

The trek at AWHC gives visitors a chance to learn about the 19th century western exploration, migration and settlement. The experience is more than just hiking the trail. Actors depicting Native Americans and mountain men will tell stories and go about the daily routine that pioneers, Indians and mountain men would have gone through in those days.

"Although the route visitors take at the AWHC is not part of the Mormon Handcart Trail, the treks do not lack historical education and experiences," said center representative Tracy Hernandez.

Longer treks include in-depth orientations with explanations of how the pioneers decided what to take and what to leave behind, a timeline of Western expansion and a history of the pioneer settling of Utah.

Contrary to most handcart treks, the center has created authentic handcart replicas, handmade entirely with wood. The AWHC provides handcarts, a guide, food and tents included in the cost of the trek.

Handcart treks can be scheduled by calling the center anytime between Memorial Day and Labor Day. "We are confident in the experience trekkers are going to have," Dahl said.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com