Albert Taylor’s Columbet Trail

I understand that Albert Taylor was a pure bred Shoshone Indian boy at the time. The story goes, his tribe lived along the Columbet River for thousands of years. Their established camps were being overrun in the early 1800s by white settlers looking for a homestead location.

Albert had many friends. Many were white people, including other children in the area. In fact, he started to go to school with them in Jarbidge.

The pressure from the white man got so bad on his tribe, they decided to leave their home and find another. Albert refused to go and stayed in his camp.

His people left, and over the years, Albert built a cabin there and had many friends around. In fact, they say, his favorite thing to do was to hang out at the Jarbidge saloon all day. At closing time, they would help him on his horse where he would sleep all the way. His horse knew the way home.

There are many stories about Albert Taylor I've heard. But my favorite is Tsawhawbitts by Tom McHugh. It describes the legend of the giant red haired Indian whose name became Jarbidge- and how Albert Taylor was involved.

The Columbet River from Albert Taylor's house to the Jarbidge River Confluence is spectacular! You can see why indigenous cultures had lived there for thousands of years.

There are remnants of an old narrow road that went back there. Maybe a homestead somewhere, but unlike most in that area, the canyon remains pretty wide all the way to the bottom.

The walls are high and curious. Caves of different depths hide in every crack. I have even heard there was an old Shoshone granary in the canyon somewhere.

Take your sleeping bag and your fishing pole. There are flat camping type spots near the confluence. The fishing is great!

Albert Taylors Place is around 15 miles. To get there from Moonshine Meadows, take Deer Creek Grade up to the top and stay to the right. Stay on this county road but remember to close any gates you have to go through. Please slow down as you go through the Diamond A Ranch. After the ranch the road turns to the right, watch for the left turn, it will seem more like a u-turn. In ½ mile turn right on the first road you come to. Stay right for 4 ½ miles and then stay left. You will drop into Columbet Creek Canyon. Drive until you get to the creek where there is a place to park. The remains of the cabin are slightly up the hill down streem. Follow the river until you are on a trail. It will take you the rest of the way down the Columbet to The Jarbidge River.