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California National Historic Trail
Trail Links & Resources for additional information.
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This page has useful links and resources for additional information and web sites about the California National Historic Trail. It includes contact information for managed trail sites, a bibliography of suggested reading materials, and travel and tourism links to various states that the trail passes through:
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National Park Service sites: - Homestead National Monument can suggest places to visit along the trail corridor or auto tour route in Nebraska:
Route 3, Box 47 Beatrice, Nebraska 66310 Tel: 402-223-3514 -
PO Box F Bayard, Nebraska 69334 Tel: 308-586-2581 -
Scotts Bluff National Monument is a prominent natural landmark for emigrants on the Oregon and California Trails. It has a visitor center, museum and bookstore. You can also drive or hike to the summit and visit trail ruts. PO Box 27 Gering, Nebraska 69341-0027 Tel: 308-436-4340 -
HC 72, Box 389 Fort Laramie, Wyoming 82212 Tel: 307-837-2221 - The City of Rocks National Reserve is approximately ten miles of California Trail Corridor within the reserve. It can provide information on the California Trail in southern Idaho.
PO Box 169 Almo, Idaho 83312 Tel: 208-824-5519 - The Nobles Emigrant Trail branch of the California Trail pass through Lassen Volcanic National Park, and the Lassen Trail is nearby. It has a visitor center, exhibits, hiking and a "Pioneers" interpretive program.
P.O. Box 100 Mineral, California 96063-0100 Tel: 916-595- 4444 Top of Page
Other Federal Trail Agencies:
- The primary information office for the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express National Historic Trails is the Bureau of Land Management, Historic Trails Office. They can provide a wealth of information on trail routes, historic sites and accessibility and trail conditions:
Bureau of Land Management
Historic Trails Office
1701 East E St.
Casper, WY 82601
Tel: 307-261-7700
- The Deep Creek Resource Area Office manages The Hudspeth's Cutoff (an alternate route from the Oregon Trail to the head of the California Trail). The publication "Emigrant Trails of Southern Idaho" is available from them. Write:
Bureau of Land Management
Deep Creek Resource Area Office
138 South Main
Malad City, ID 83252
Tel: 208-766-4766
- The Eastern Idaho Visitor Information Center can provide Idaho state maps, and various maps (National Forest service, BLM Surface Management and USGS 7.5 Minute Topos) of Idaho and western Wyoming, as well as books on Idaho and surrounding attractions. Write:
Bureau of Land Management
505 Lindsay Boulevard
P.O. Box 50498
Idaho Falls, ID 83405
Tel: 208-523-1012
- Pocatello Resource Area is where several historic trail segments crossed. It can provide several pamphlets on trails in the area and the publication "Emigrant Trails of Southern Idaho." Write:
1111 N. 8th Ave.
Pocatello, ID 83201
Tel: 208-236-6860
- The Nevada State Office can provide general statewide information on the Pony Express and California Trails. More specific information can be obtained from the districts listed below, which provide on-the-ground management of the trails. Write:
Bureau of Land Management
Nevada State Office
P.O. Box 12000
850 Harvard Waymore
Reno, NV 89520
Tel: 702-785-6628
- BLM-Winnemucca District manages the Applegate-Lassen segment of the California Trail in Nevada. It can provide information on accessibility and trail conditions across their management area. Write:
BLM-Winnemucca District
705 East 4th Street
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Tel: 702-623-1500
- The Surprise Resource Area manages a section of the Applegate/Lassen route of the California Trail in California. It can provide information on trail conditions and accessibility through High Rock Canyon and Surprise Valley. Write:
BLM-Surprise Resource Area
P.O. Box 460
602 Cressler Street
Cedarville, CA 96104-0460
Tel: 916-279-2171
- Caribou National Forest can provide information on travel in southeast Idaho, the Lander Cutoff and Soda Springs. Write:
Caribou National Forest
421 West 2nd South
Soda Springs, ID 83276
Tel: 208-236-7500
- Plumas National Forest can provide a brochure on the Beckwourth Trail route (a branch of the California Trail System) and information on accessibility and trail conditions. Write:
P.O. Box 11500
1159 Lawrence Street
Quincy, CA 95971
Tel: 916-283-2050
- Tahoe National Forest can provide a detailed map of the California Trail across the Tahoe National Forest and information on trail conditions and accessibility. Write:
Forest Archaeologist
Tahoe National Forest
P.O. Box 6003
Nevada City, CA 95959
Tel: 916-265-4531
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Selected State Historic Sites and Organizations:
- Rock Creek Station State Historic Park was a road ranch which catered to stages, freight lines and emigrant traffic on the Oregon Trail. It was used as a stage station and swing station on the Pony Express. It offers an interpretive center, picnic and playground areas, hiking and nature trails and Oregon Trail ruts and modern campground:
57425 710 Road
Fairbury, NE 68352
Tel: 402-729-5777
- Fort Kearny State Historic Park was the first military post along the Oregon Trail. It has a museum, outdoor exhibits and bookstore:
Route 4
Kearney, NE 68847
Tel: 308-234-9513
- To view prominent Oregon Trail ruts, Windlass Hill, museum and outdoor exhibits:
P.O. Box A
Lewellen, NE 69147
Tel: 308-778-5651
- Fort Sedgewick Depot Museum was the site of a pony express station and Fort Sedgewick, which has exhibits and information on the Pony Express and South Platte River Trail. Write:
Fort Sedgewick Depot Museum
P.O. Box 69
Julesburg, CO 80737
Tel: 303-474-2264
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Fort Bridger State Historic Site offers a restored military and fur trade post, museum and outdoor exhibits. It can also provide information on Oregon, California, Pony Express and Mormon Trails in southwest Wyoming:
Box 35
Fort Bridger, WY 82601
Tel: 307-782-3842
- Utah Division of Parks and Recreation has information on the Hastings Cutoff Route in Temple Utah, especially the hiking segment between Mormon Flat and Big Mountain:
1636 W. North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Tel: 801-538-7344
- The Oregon Trail Coordinating Council can provide detailed information on the Oregon Trail across the state of Oregon:
Oregon Trail Coordinating Council
222 NW Davis
Suite 309
Portland, OR 97205
Tel: 503-228-7245
- Marshall Gold Discovery can provide information on Coloma; gold discovery site on the South Fork of the American River. Write:
P.O. Box 265
Coloma, CA 95613
Tel: 530-622-3470
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Private Museums and Partner Associations:
- Oregon-California Trails Association
PO Box 1019
Independence, MO 64051-0519
Tel: 816-252-2276
P.O. Box 323
320 North 4th Street
Montpelier, ID 83254
Tel: 208-847-3800
- National Frontier Trails Center
318 West Pacific
Independence, MO 64050
Tel: 816-325-7575
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For information about specific states, you may contact:
- Missouri Division of Tourism
P.O. Box 1055
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Tel: 573-751-4962
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Travel and Tourism Division
P.O. Box 94666
Lincoln, NE 68509
1-800-228-4307
- Kansas Division of Travel and Tourism
400 SW Eighth Street
5th Floor
Topeka, KS 66603
Tel: 1- 800-2-KANSAS
- Wyoming Division of Tourism
I-25 at College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82002
1-800-225-5996
- Idaho Department of Commerce, Tourism Promotion
700 West State Street
Boise, ID 83720-2700
1-800-VISIT-ID
- Oregon Tourism Division
775 Summer Street
NE Salem, OR 97310
Tel: 1-800-547-7842
- Utah Travel Council
Council Hall/Capitol Hill
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Tel: 1-800-200-1160
- Colorado Tourism
1625 Broadway
Suite 1700
Denver, CO 80202
Tel: 800-303-1670
Capitol Complex
Carson City, NV 89710
Tel: 800-638-2328
801 K Street
Suite 1600
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 800-462-2543
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Relevant Books and Publications
Comprehensive Management and Use Plan, California National Historic Trail. This is a large Acrobat Reader PDF document that is approximately 19.4mb in size. You must have the free program installed on your computer to view it. Contact the National Trails System Office in Salt Lake City if you would like to have a printed copy mailed to you. Otherwise the document can be downloaded from here. Acrobat Reader is required for viewing the document.
Bryant, Edwin, What I Saw in California. Reprinted, Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1985.
Hill, William, California Trail Yesterday and Today: A Pictorial Journey. Boise: Tamarack Books, 1986.
Mattes, Merrill, The Great Platte River Road. Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press, 1969.
Meyers, Sandra L., ed. Ho For California--Women's Overland Diaries from the Huntington Library. San Marino: Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, 1980.
Morgan, Dale, ed. Overland in 1846: Diaries and Letters of the California-Oregon Trail. Georgetown, CA.: Talisman Press, 1963; reprint ed., Lincoln & London, University of Nebraska Press, 1993.
Nunis, Dr. Doyce B., ed. The Bidwell-Bartleson Party: 1841 California Emigrant Adventure. Santa Cruz: Western Tanager Press, 1991.
Stewart, George, The California Trail: An Epic With Many Heroes. New York: McGraw Hill, 1962; reprint ed., Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press, 1983.
Unruh, John D., Jr., The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West, 1840-60. Urbana & Chicago: University of Illinois press, 1982.
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