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California National Historic TrailEarly snowfall trapped the Donner & Reed wagon train at this site in late October of 1846.
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California National Historic Trail
Trail Links & Resources for additional information.

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:


 


 



 

 

National Park Service sites:


  • Homestead National Monument can suggest places to visit along the trail corridor or auto tour route in Nebraska:

    Homestead National Monument
    Route 3, Box 47
    Beatrice, Nebraska 66310
    Tel: 402-223-3514

  • Chimney Rock National Historic Site
    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.

    Scotts Bluff National Monument
    PO Box 27
    Gering, Nebraska 69341-0027
    Tel: 308-436-4340

  • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
    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.

    City of Rocks National Reserve
    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.

    Lassen Volcanic National ParkP.O. Box 100
    Mineral, California 96063-0100
    Tel: 916-595- 4444

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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
    http://www.wy.blm.gov/historictrails/index.htm

  • 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
    Eastern Idaho Visitor Information Center
    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:

    Pocatello Resource Area
    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
    http://www.nv.blm.gov/

  • 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
    http://www.nv.blm.gov/Winnemucca/
  • 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
    http://www.shastacascade.org/blm/surprise/surprise.htm

  • 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
    http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/caribou/

  • 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:

    Plumas National ForestP.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
    www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe/

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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:

    Rock Creek Station State Historic Park
    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:

    Fort Kearny State Historical Park
    Route 4
    Kearney, NE 68847
    Tel: 308-234-9513

  • To view prominent Oregon Trail ruts, Windlass Hill, museum and outdoor exhibits:

    Ash Hollow State Historical Park
    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

  • 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:

    Fort Bridger State Historic Site
    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:

    Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
    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:

    Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic ParkP.O. Box 265
    Coloma, CA 95613
    Tel: 530-622-3470

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Private Museums and Partner Associations:

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For information about specific states, you may contact:

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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 Adobe Acrobat Reader 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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Picture image of Farewell Bend on the Snake River along Interstate 84 west of Boise, Idaho.  

Did You Know?
Oregon bound emigrants bid "farewell" to the Snake River as they entered the Oregon Territory in the 1840s - 60s heading for the Columbia River. The site is managed today by Oregon State Parks.
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Last Updated: October 26, 2006 at 18:16 EST