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National Historic Trail · CA, CO, ID, KS, MO, NE, NV, OR, UT, WY

California National Historic Trail

Follow in the footsteps of over 250,000 emigrants who traveled to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840s and 1850s: the greatest mass migration in American history. The California National Historic Trail is over 5,000 miles long and covers portions of 10 states. Step into history along more than 1,000 miles of ruts and traces from travelers and their overland wagons.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

A white canvas wagon sits in front of a large rock buttress with mountains in the distance.
Wagon at Register Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
A still creek winds through brown rolling hills.
A creek in Carlin Canyon, Nevada on the California Trail
A dirt road passes through sagebrush and a white post with a mountain in the background.
Trail ruts on through Humboldt Wells in Nevada
A rock buttress with a notch in it surrounded by sagebrush flats.
Devil's Gate was an important emigrant landmark in Wyoming.
Pine trees partly obscure a distant mountain lake with snow-capped mountains.
View of West Pass on the Carson Route of the California NHT.

Activities

  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto
  • Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Museum Exhibits