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California National Historic Trail

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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.

Entry Fees

No additional fees

Weather Information

Due to the length of the California National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov

Address

National Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Activities & Topics

Auto and ATV Scenic Driving Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Auto Hiking Horse Trekking Horseback Riding Junior Ranger Program Museum Exhibits African American Heritage Archeology Arts Photography Poetry and Literature Burial Cemetery and Gravesite Colonization and Settlement Explorers and Expeditions Forts Monuments and Memorials Native American Heritage Wars and Conflicts Westward Expansion The Gold Rush Rock Landscapes and Features Trails