California National Historic Trail - Plan Your Visit

Operating Hours Seasons

The California National Historic Trail is recognized as a nationally significant resource relevant to the westward expansion of the United States. Although administered by the National Park Service, it is not a typical national park with borders. Rather, it is an historic road or route used by hundreds of thousands of emigrants between the 1840s and early 1870s as they made their way west to begin a new life or to seek their fortune.

Operating hours and seasons for trail resources and sites of interest along this 2,000 mile route vary with each site and facility. Many private and agency museums and interpretive centers exist from Missouri to California.

Local Partners Information Resources

Utah Travel Council

Nevada Tourism

California Tourism

Wyoming Tourism

Nebraska Tourism

Getting Around

Auto Tour Route driving directions take visitors along modern highways that approximate or closely parallel the historic route taken by emigrant wagon trains during the 1840s to the 1870s.