National Historic Trails

California Trail
Established in 1841, The California Trail was the overland route that brought an estimated quarter million emigrants to the State of California, "The Golden State" as it was called.

National Historic Trails List

National Historic and Scenic Trails are listed here with links to sites filled with information, maps, museums, and other important resources.
Travel the historic trails, see the sites, visit the monuments, and learn the ways of the pioneers.

The National Trails System Act - U.S. CODE

The purpose of this Act is to provide the means for attaining these objectives by instituting a national system of recreation, scenic and historic trails, by designating the Appalachian Trails and The Pacific Crest Trail as the initial components of that system, and by prescribing the methods by which, and standards according to which, additional components may be added to the system.
(also found in United States Code, Volume 16, Sections 1241-1251)

National historic trails, are established to follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historical significance.
Designation of such trails or routes shall be continuous ...

Nez Perce Indians
The Nez Perce Indians in their native homeland was located in the area of southwestern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and north central Idaho ...

Tales from the Trail
One of our writers tells Tales from the Trail as she travels along the National Historic Trails of the Old West.

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

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