California National Historic Trail
Nebraska, California, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon
Free entry
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.
Activities
Topics
No entrance fee.
Hours
The California National Historic Trail is not a clearly marked hiking trail. Instead it is a corridor that passes through communities, urban areas, public lands, and Wilderness. The route travels across a variety of land ownerships and management, including private land. Each location varies as to the hours of operation and access. Please contact individual trail sites before your visit for more information.
Conditions
Weather now: ☀️ Clear, 60°F
☁️ 77°/45°
☁️ 80°/46°
🌦️ 83°/49°
Things to do
Become a California Trail Junior Ranger
Birdwatching on the California Trail
Go See Oregon Trail Ruts
Hike on the California Trail
Check out Museums and Visitor Centers along the California Trail
Horseback Riding on the California Trail
Visitor centers
The California Trail Interpretive Center
Not an official safety source — always defer to NPS.gov and rangers for life-safety decisions.
How California National Historic Trail connects
This park's activities, topics, location, and on-the-ground places — one hop in the graph. Drag to explore; click an activity, topic, or related park to follow it.
Park
Activity
Topic
State
VisitorCenter
PassportStamp
ThingToDo
Similar parks
Share activities & topics with California National Historic Trail.
