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Eagleville, Lassen Co., CA

A branch of the California Trail that was originally intended as a less dangerous southern route to the Oregon Territory. See also in section 8, (Western Mt. States), Truckee Route in Nevada 9T2(NV)

Applegate Trail in California

Route 9A1(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Tulelake, Siskiyou Co., CA

The trail then entered northern California near Surprise Valley Rd., Eagleville, Lassen County at approximately N41.165171° W119.999834°. From this point it passed Goose and Tule lakes. After crossing the Lost River, the route then crossed the Klamath Basin and the Cascade Range leaving California near SR 139 Tulelake, Siskiyou County, CA.

Applegate Trail in Oregon

Route 9A2(OR); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Merrill, Klamath County OR

Willamette Valley, OR

The trail then entered southern Oregon Near present-day SR 139, Merrill, Klamath County OR before it goes in a southwesterly direct back into present day California where it reenters Oregon at . It followed the Lost River and Keene Creek to the Siskiyou Mountains where it followed the south branch of the Rogue River. Heading northerly, the route followed the Umpqua River before crossing the Calapooya Mountains into the southern Willamette Valley.

Applegate-Lassen Cutoff

See Lassen Cutoff

Auburn Emigrant Road

Route 9A3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Nevada City, Nevada Co., CA

Auburn, Placer Co., CA

Established in 1852 this road branched from the Truckee Route to bring emigrants to the new gold diggings at Auburn, California. California State Route 49 from Auburn to Nevada City approximates this path.

B

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Barlow Road

Route 9B1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Oregon City, Clackamas Co., OR

Served as the last overland segment of the Oregon Trail. Its construction allowed wagons to cross the Cascade Range and reach the Willamette Valley, which had previously been nearly impossible.

Beckwourth Trail

Route 9B2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Reno, Washoe Co., NV

Marysville, Yuba Co., CA

The trail left the Truckee Route from the Truckee River about where Reno, Nevada is now situated. The trail then went through the Beckwourth Pass to Beckwourth’s Ranch. From there it went west the Quincy, California. The trail then proceeded southward to Marysville.

Big Trees Road & Ebbetts Pass Road

Route 9B3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Murphys, Calaveras Co., CA

Markleeville, Alpine Co., CA

Originally a free pack trail route when first used in about 1851 by "Major" John Ebbetts, it was improved to a wagon road and became a toll road to silver mining towns in eastern California and western Nevada from 1864 through 1910, and then a free county road in 1911. It approximates the present California State Highway 4 route over Ebbetts Pass.

Bidwell-Bartleson Trail

Route 9B4; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Westport, Jackson Co., MO

Sutter’s Fort, Sacramento, CA

The westward migration route used in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell Party led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell. This group became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.

Burnett Cutoff

Route 9B5; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Malin, Klamath Co., OR

near Canby, Modoc Co., CA

Named for Peter Burnett captain of an 1848 wagon train that followed the Applegate Trail to about 5 miles south east of Malin, Oregon and then cuts off to the south where it connects to the Lassen Trail about 18 miles south west of Canby, California.

Butterfield Overland Mail

Route 8B6; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

St. Louis, Missouri

Memphis, Shelby Co., TN

Fort Smith Sebastian Co., AR

Fort Smith Sebastian Co., AR

This southern stagecoach route was established by John Butterfield and operated from 1857 to 1869. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, ending in San Francisco, California. AKA. Oxbow Route; Butterfield Overland Stage; Butterfield Overland Mail Trail; or the Butterfield Stage. Also see Southern Emigrant Trail.

C

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

California Road

Route 9C1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

San Diego, California

The California Road followed the route laid out by Captain Randolph B. Marcy escorting gold seekers during the spring of 1849. Starting from Ft. Smith, Arkansas, it crossed over into Indian Territory and generally followed the Canadian River to the Texas Panhandle. The trail continued across the Panhandle along the Canadian into New Mexico where it met an existing trail south out of Santa Fe to El Paso and west into California.

California Trail (Entire Route)

Route 9C2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Various Places in

Missouri and California

An emigrant trail of about 2,000 miles from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California. The first half of the California Trail followed the same corridor of trails as the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail. The western end of the trail turned off in Idaho to reach the Humboldt River valley trail across Nevada to where it became a network of trails that led west over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. See also California Trail in Idaho and Utah (8C1), as well as California Trail in Nevada (8C2), Carson Route in Nevada (8C5), and Truckee Route in Nevada (8T4).

California Trail in California

Route 9C2(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Various Places in California

(see each individual route)

A network of various trails primarily the Carson Route, Truckee Route. Additional California Trail routes over the Sierra Nevada Mountains were: Walker River-Sonora Route; Beckwourth Trail (9B2); Lassen Trail; Nobles Trail; Henness Pass Route ( ); Nevada City Road; Placer County Road; Sacramento-Coloma Road; Georgetown Trail; Johnson Cutoff; Georgetown/Dagget Pass Trail; Luther Pass Trail; Grizzly Flat Cutoff; Volcano Road; and Big Trees Road (9B3). The Applegate Trail (9B1) is also considered as a branch of the California Trail.

Carson Route in California

Route 9C4(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Markleeville, Alpine Co., CA

Troutdale, Multnomah Co., OR

The Carson Route enters California near today's State Route 88 at about N38.847313° W119.779127°. It then travels over Carson Pass. At approximately N38.628058° W120.208618° it leaves Route 88 going northwest to Pollock Pines on US Highway 50 the west to Sacramento. See also California Trail (9C2).

Columbia River Highway

Route 9C5; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Coos Bay, Coos Co., OR

An approximately 75-mile (120 km) scenic highway in Oregon. This historic road was built through the Columbia River Gorge between 1913 and 1922, as the first planned scenic roadway in the United States,

Coos Bay Wagon Road

Route 9C6; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Roseburg, Douglas Co., OR

A pioneer road in the U.S. state of Oregon that connected Douglas County to Coos Bay starting in 1872. AKA. Coos Bay Military Wagon Road

D

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Day's Route

See Johnson Cutoff (9J1)

De Anza Trail

Route 9D2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Tubac, Santa Cruz Co., AZ

Newcastle, Iron Co., UT

The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is a 1,210 mile United States national historic trail that commemorates the 1775–1776 route that Spanish commander Juan Bautista de Anza took to build a presidio and mission near San Francisco Bay.

Death Valley Emigrant Trail in California

Route 9D3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Santa Clarita, Los Angeles Co., CA

The Death Valley Emigrant Trail, also known as the Death Valley-Manley Trail, was a shortcut into southern California. Established in the late 1840’s it was abandoned within a few years because of at lack of water and difficult terrain. This route cut off the Old Spanish Trail in western Utah. It traveled north of the Old Spanish trail across Nevada and into Death Valley to Furnace Creek from there the remainder of the trail went to San Francisquito Rancho near present day Santa Clarita.

E

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

El Camino Viejo

Route 9E1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

San Pedro, Los Angeles Co., CA

Oakland, Alameda Co., CA

More formally known as the El Camino Viejo à Los Angeles this route was the old colonial Spanish road to Los Angeles. It was was also known as the Old Los Angeles Trail, well established by the 1820s, was the oldest north-south trail in the interior of Upper California. AKA. Old Los Angeles Trail

Elliott Cutoff

Route 9E2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

See Meek-Elliott-Macy

Vale, Malheur Co., OR

Willamette Valley, Oregon

The Elliott Cutoff was a wagon road, created in 1853, that branched off the Oregon Trail at the Malheur River at present-day Vale, Oregon and continued west to the Willamette Valley. The first portion of the road was originally known as the Meek Cutoff after Stephen Meek, a former trapper who led over 1,000 emigrants into the Harney Basin in 1845.

F

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Foote's Crossing Road

Route 9F1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

North Columbia, Nevada Co., CA

Alleghany, Sierra Co., CA

An old mining road in northern California that was built in 1913. It’s path winds through the Tahoe National Forest in the counties of Nevada and Sierra.

Fort Kearney, South Pass & Honey Lake Wagon Road

See Nobles Road (9N2).

Fort Walla Walla–Fort Colville Military Rd.

Route 9F3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Ft. Walla Walla, WA

Fort Coville, Stevens Co., WA

The start point was Fort Walla Walla, a U.S. Army post established in 1858 with both infantry and cavalry. It closed September 28, 1910. The end point was Fort Colville, a U.S. Army post located three miles north of current Colville, Washington. Fort Colville closed in 1882.

Free Emigrant Road

Route 9F2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Bend, Deschutes Co., OR

Eugene, Lane Co., OR

Although the entire route of the Meek-Elliot-Macy Trail

The name Free Emigrant Road is most closely identified with the western segment of the Meek-Elliot-Macy Trail whereas the eastern part was made up of various routes pioneered by Elliot, Meek, and Macy. The entire road was a branch of the Oregon Trail from the Malheur River (Vale) to the southern Willamette Valley (Eugene). See also Elliot Cutoff (9E2), Meek Cutoff (9M2), and Macy Cutoff (9M1).

G

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Georgetown Trail

Route 9G1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Kyburz, El Dorado Co., CA

Georgetown, El Dorado Co., CA

The original, 90 mile, trail ran from the Carson Route, near Minden, Nevada, to the mining camp at Georgetown, California. Later other names where used for portions of this route, (see Georgetown-Daggett Pass Trail). The later route known as the Georgetown Trail was about 50 miles long.

Georgetown-Dagget Pass Trail

Route 9G2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Minden, Douglas Co., NV

Georgetown, El Dorado Co., CA

The original trail route branched from the Carson Route and encompassed what would be later known as the Daggett Pass Trail and a portion of the Johnson Cutoff.

Greenhorn Cutoff

Route 9G3; Info. Link (1), (2); Map (1); Images (1)

near Moleen, Elko Co., NV

Carlin, Elko Co., NV

This trail was developed to bypass the narrow 5 mile long Carlin Canyon, on the Humboldt River, when it flooded.

Grizzly Flats Road

Route 9G4; Info. Link (1), (2); Map (1); Images (1)

Leek Spring Valley, El Dorado Co., CA

Grizzly Flats, El Dorado Co., CA

Established in 1852 this road branched off the Carson Route and travelled down the middle fork of the Consumes River to what were then a busy gold diggings at Grizzly Flats.

H

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Henness Pass Road

Route 9H1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Verdi, Washoe Co., NV

Camptonville, Yuba Co., CA

Marysville, Yuba Co., CA

This 80 mile long trail over the Sierra Nevada Mountains was established as a wagon road by Patrick Henness in 1850. The Henness Pass Road was located about 15 miles north of the Truckee Route. It went up the Little Truckee River to Webber Lake then to Henness Pass, then followed along the ridge dividing the North and Middle Yuba Rivers.

Huntington Wagon Road

Route 9H2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Fort Klamath, Klamath Co., OR

An historic 19^th century pioneer and military road that is now U.S. Route 197. The road was established in the fall of 1867, when J. W. Perit Huntington, Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs guided a wagon train loaded with supplies from The Dalles to Fort Klamath.

I

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Route 9X1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

J

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Jackass Mail

See San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line (9S2).

Johnson Cutoff

Route 9J1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Carson City, Nevada

Pollock Pines, El Dorado Co., CA

This cutoff was developed by John Calhoun Johnson of Placerville in about 1850–51. The entre road roughly follows current U.S. Route 50. It joined the Carson Route near Pollock Pines, California and then extended to Placerville, California. This route, eventually became one of the main all-season routes over the Sierra Nevada Mountains as it could be kept open at least intermittently in the winter. AKA. Placerville Route, Lake Tahoe Route, Tahoe Wagon Road, and Day's Route.

K

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Kingston Cutoff

Route 9K1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Mountain Springs, Clark Co., NV

Renoville, San Bernardino Co., CA

This variation of the Old Spanish Trail was inaugurated in 1854. The Kingston Cutoff led travelers southwest from about N36.006918° W115.597192° on the Fremont Cutoff (8F1) near Mountain Springs, Nevada to Renoville near the Silurian Lake, California.

Koncow Trail of Tears

See Nome Cult Trail (9N3).

L

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Lake Tahoe Route

See Johnson Cutoff (9J1).

Lassen Trail

Route 9L1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Davis Creek, Modoc Co., CA

Merrills Landing, Butte Co., CA

This trail is essentially the California branch of the Applegate Trail. It was established in 1848 by Peter Lassen. The trail proceeded southwest through the Devil's Garden along the Pit River and passed east of Mt. Lassen until it eventually swung west at present day Lake Almanor and arrived at Lassen's rancho near the Sacramento River. This road was so rough that today in many places it can only be traveled by the occasional forest trail and hiking paths. AKA. Lassen Cutoff

Lewis & Clark Trail (Entire Route)

Route 9L2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Wood River, Madison Co., IL

Fort Clatsop, Clatsop Co., OR

St. Louis, Missouri

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a 3,700 mile route across the United States commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. It is part of the National Trails System of the United States.

Lewis & Clark Trail in WA/OR

Route 9L2(WA/OR); Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Whitman County, WA

Fort Clatsop, Clatsop Co., OR

Clarkston, Asotin Co., WA

Entered Washington State in Whitman County at approximately N46.431141° W117.039580° then followed the Snake River west to its junction with the Columbia River near present-day Sacajawea State Park. The trail continued west along the Columbia River to the site of Fort Clatsop. The eastward route followed the same path from Fort Clatsop to the mouth of the Walla Walla River. From that point it travelled up the Walla Walla River to the present-day city of Walla Walla, Washington. Then continued east generally following today’s U.S. Route 12 to Clarkson, Washington

Lincoln Highway (Entire Route)

Route 9L3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

New York City, New York

Sierra County, California

This historic road was one of the earliest transcontinental auto trails in the United States of America. The first officially recorded length of the entire Lincoln Highway in 1913 was 3,389 miles. As the first automobile road across America, the Lincoln Highway brought great prosperity to the hundreds of cities, towns and villages along the way. The Lincoln Highway became affectionately known as "The Main Street Across America."

Lincoln Highway in California

Route 9L3(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado Co., CA

Lincoln Park, San Francisco, CA

From 9 miles west of Fallon Nevada to Sacramento, there are two Lincoln Highway routes over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Northern Route enters California near Interstate 80 in Sierra County. Then follows Interstate 80 and old U.S. Route 40 westward over Donner Pass the mountains to Sacramento. The Southern Route enters California at South Lake Tahoe on U.S. Route 50 and runs westward over Echo Summit and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Sacramento. From Sacramento the route followed Old U.S. Route 40, now Interstate 80, southwestward across California's Central Valley to Berkeley. Then by ferry across the bay to San Francisco and the western terminus at Lincoln Park.

Lolo Pass Trail

Route 9L4; Info. Link (1), (2); Map (1); Images (1)

Willamette Valley, Oregon

This trail was first used in 1838 as one of the final legs of the Oregon Trail; settlers arriving from The Dalles would often drive their livestock over the pass while their families floated down the river.

M

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Macy Cutoff

Route 9M1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Vale, Malheur Co., OR

Eugene, Lane Co., OR

Created by William Macy in 1854, this route branched off from the Oregon Trail near at present-day Vale, Oregon and followed the trails created by Meek in 1845 and Elliott in 1853. Macy led 121 wagons over the Cascade Mountains on much of the same route as Elliott’s without recorded difficulty. This segment would become known as the Free Emigrant Road (9F2).

Meek-Elliott-Macy Trails

See Free Emigrant Road (9F2).

Meek Cutoff

Route 9M2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Maps are all Free Emigrant Road

Vale, Malheur Co., OR

San Diego, California

The Meek Cutoff was a road that branched off the Oregon Trail at Vale, Oregon, and followed the Malheur River to head into the Harney Basin. It then turned west towards Wagon Tire Mountain, and north to the south fork of the Crooked River where it split into two routes. Each path led to the Deschutes River. The two routes reunited north of where the Crooked River empties into the Deschutes and then continued to The Dalles, Oregon where it connected to the Barlow Road, which opened in 1846, permitting passage across the Cascade Range and into the Willamette Valley.

Midland Trail

See Roosevelt Midland Trail (9R3)

Millerton Road

see Stockton-Los Angeles Road

Mission Trail

Route 9M3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1), (2)

Fort Benton, Chouteau Co., MT

This route was initially forged by General Gaspar de Portola on his journey from San Diego to find Monterey Bay. The historic trail was used in the 18^th century by Spanish missionaries who established the 21 missions that comprise California's historic Mission Trail. All are located on or near Highway 101, which roughly traces El Camino Real (The Royal Road). From San Diego to Los Angeles, the historic highway is now known as Interstate 5. From Santa Clara to San Francisco, the road is called State Highway 82. North of San Francisco, Highway 101 again picks up the trail to the mission at San Rafael. From there, State Highway 37 leads to the last mission at Sonoma.

Mount Hood Road

See Barlow Road 9S7.

Mullan Road (Entire Route)

Route 9M4; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Walla Walla, Washington

This historic road was surveyed and built between 1859 and 1862. The route connected Fort Benton on the Missouri River with Fort Walla Walla on the Columbia River. It was originally built as military road but was used for only a few years. The route generally follows along Interstate 15 and Interstate 90 through Montana, Idaho and Washington State.

Mullan Road in Washington State

Route 9M4(WA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Tekoa, Whitman Co., WA

Ft. Walla Walla, Walla Walla Co., WA

The Mullan Road passed south of Lake Coeur d'Alene and ran southwesterly into Washington some distance south of Spokane possibly near SR 274 in Whitman County.n From there, the route passed through the Palouse and scablands of eastern Washington. It passed through the town of Benge traveling south to State Route 26 near Washtucna. The route south of SR 26 follows the course of the Palouse River to the Snake River. After crossing the Snake River the Mullan Road continues south along the Fort Walla Walla Fort Colville Military Road to its terminus at Fort Walla Walla in Walla Walla County.

N

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Nevada City Road

Route 9N1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Emigrant Gap, Placer Co., CA

Wheatland, Yuba Co., CA

A branch of the Truckee Route that was established in 1850. This route is closely followed today by California State Route 20 from Emigrant Gap on Highway 80 to Nevada City, California. The road later extended to Johnson’s Ranch now located at Wheatland, California.

Nobles Emigrant Trail

Route 9N2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Rabbithole Springs, NV

Shasta, Shasta Co., CA

In 1851, William Nobles surveyed a shorter variation of the Lassen Trail. It was developed to make it easier to get to Shasta, California in the Central Valley and was first used in 1852. The entire route is approximately 275 miles long. AKA. Fort Kearney, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road

Nobles Road

See Nobles Emigrant Trail (9N2).

Nome Cult Trail

Route 9N3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Chico, Butte Co., CA

Covelo, Mendocino Co., CA

A northern California historic trail located in present-day Mendocino National Forest. The trail travels along Round Valley Road through Rocky Ridgeand the Sacramento Valley. AKA. Koncow Trail of Tears

O

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Old Los Angeles Trail

Also known as the Old Road to Los Angeles. For more information see El Camino Viejo.

Old Military Road in Oregon

Route 9O1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Myrtle Creek, Douglas Co., OR

Jacksonville, Jackson Co., OR

A military road from Myrtle Creek to Jacksonville that was declared a territorial road on Jan. 31, 1854. Most of this 19^th century route follows along today’s State Route 99 and Interstate 5.

Old Plank Road

Route 9O2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Ogilby, Imperial Co., CA

Grays Well, Imperial Co., CA

A plank road in Imperial County, California that was built in 1915 as an east–west route over the Algodones Dunes. It effectively connected the extreme lower section of Southern California to Arizona and provided the last link in a commercial route between San Diego and Yuma.

Old Spanish Trail (Entire Route)

Route 9O3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Inyo County, California

The Old Spanish Trail started at Santa Fe, New Mexico and ran through southwestern Colorado, south-central Utah, southern Nevada to Los Angeles. See also (8) Routes to the Southwest for Old Spanish Trail in New Mexico and Colorado, and (9) Western Mountain States for Old Spanish Trail in Utah and Nevada.

Old Spanish Trail in California

Route 9O3(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Silver City, Owyhee Co., Idaho

The Old Spanish Trail enters Inyo County, California at approximately N35.875940° W115.733210° this point is about 2 miles north of Jean (Sandy Valley) Clark County, Nevada. It runs for about 200 miles through southern California to near the site of Fort Moore in downtown Los Angeles.

Oregon Central Military Wagon Road

Route 9O4; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Eugene, Lane Co., OR

A circuitous 420-mile (680 km) wagon trace was established in 1872. The route was designed to capture government land grants rather than link destinations. Today, Oregon Route 58 (also known as the Willamette Pass Highway) follows the first leg of the Oregon Central military road from Eugene over the Cascades to Central Oregon.

Oregon Trail in Oregon

Route 9O5(OR); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Dunaway, Malheur Co., OR

near Adrian, Malheur Co., OR

Oregon City, Clackamas Co., OR

Government Camp, Clakamas, OR

The main route of the Oregon Trail enters Oregon at about N43.826265° W117.027719° near Dunaway, Oregon. The South Alternative Trail (8O3) crosses into Oregon about 10 miles to the south at approximately N43.676491° W117.028235°. The trail runs in a northeasterly direction to The Dalles on the Columbia River. Then down the river to Portland where it curves back east ending at Oregon City. An extension to the trail ends at Government Camp near Mount Hood.

Oxbow Route

see Butterfield Overland Mail

P

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Placerville Route

See Johnson Cutoff (9J1).

Pony Express Trail

Route 9P1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri

Venture, Ventura Co., CA

Name of the route utilized by the Pony Express mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, between April 3, 1860 to October 1861. Some portions of this early mail route corresponded with the Oregon Trail and Central Overland Route (8C7).

Q

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Route 9X1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

R

Name

(Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Rincon Sea Level Road

Route 9R1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Santa Barbara, California

An early 20^th century alternative route to the Casitas Pass for motorists driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, California. Parts were constructed on wood planks and pilings along the Pacific coastline, where the Southern Pacific Railroad line also traveled the route in parallel.

Roller Pass-Truckee Trail

Route 9R2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Truckee, Nevada Co., CA

near Soda Springs, Nevada Co., CA

About 1846, the Joseph Aram party found a 12 mile alternate route on the south side of Donner Lake. Their route ran past the future town of Truckee, California up Coldstream Canyon south of Donner Lake to a 7,800 feet saddle between Mt. Judah and Mt. Lincoln, about two miles south of Donner's pass. Here the final climb was up over the somewhat higher but less precipitous Roller Pass.

Roosevelt Midland Trail

Route 9R3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Washington, D.C.

The Roosevelt Midland Trail, also called the Midland Trail, was a national auto trail spanning the United States from Washington, D.C. west to Los Angeles, California and San Francisco, California ( though the Lincoln Highway guide published in 1916 states the original eastern terminus was in New York City ). First road signed in 1913, it was one of the first, if not the first, marked transcontinental auto trails in America. Also known as the Midland Trail.

Ruckles Road

See Thomas and Ruckle Road (9T1).

S

Name

Links to Resources)

Places of Termination

Descriptive Information

Sacramento-Coloma Road

Route 9S1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Coloma, El Dorado Co., CA

This road branches off of the Carson Route just east of Sacramento and travels about 25 to 30 miles to Coloma. It is possible that the original road followed the South Fork of the American River.

San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line

Route 9S2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX

San Diego, California

Also known as the Jackass Mail, this was the earliest overland stagecoach and mail operation to California. Established in 1857 the route ran for 1,476 miles from San Antonio via the San Antonio-El Paso Road (7L6) then continued north to Mesilla where it took the Southern Emigrant Trail (7S6) from there to San Diego. 87 watering places and stage stations were organized along the route. After only one year in operation the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line was supplanted in 1858 by the Butterfield Overland Mail Company.

Santa Susana Wagon Road

Route 9S3; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Chatsworth, Los Angeles Co., CA

San Fernando Valley, CA

A route taken by early travellers between the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley via the Santa Susana Pass. The main route climbs through what is now the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, with a branch in Chatsworth Park South. AKA. Old Santa Susana Stage Road

Santiam Wagon Road

Route 9S4; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Lebanon, Linn Co., OR

Sisters, Deschutes Co., OR

A freight route (roughly paralleling Oregon Highway 20) in Oregon between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon regions from 1865 to the 1930s. AKA Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain Wagon Road.

Simpson's Route

See Central Overland Route (8C7).

Siskiyou Trail

Route 9S5; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Vancouver, Clark Co., WA

Sonora, Tuolumne Co., CA

This historic route extended from the Fort Vancouver in southern Washington, to California's Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. Based on existing Native American foot trails it became the shortest practical path between early settlements in California and Oregon. Modern-day Interstate 5 follows this pioneer path.

Sonora Route

See Walker River-Sonora Route (9W1).

Sonora-Mono Toll Road

Route 9S6; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Aurora, Mineral Co., NV

The Sonora and Mono route was built in 1864 to carry traffic over Sonora Pass via Bridgeport in Mono County to the mining industry at Aurora in Mineral County, Nevada. In 1878 it again became a popular route to Nevada from south of Placerville. Today’s State Highways 108 and 270 as well as US Rt. 395 is much the same route as the Old Sonora-Mono Toll Road.

Stockton-Los Angeles Road

Route 9S7; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA

Fort Boise, Canyon Co., ID

This route was established about 1853 following the discovery of gold on the Kern River in Old Tulare County. AKA. Millerton Road, Stockton-Mariposa Road, Stockton-Fort Miller Road or the Stockton-Visalia Road

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Tahoe Wagon Road

See Johnson Cutoff (9J1).

The Dalles Military Road

Route 9D1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

The Dalles Military Road, also known as The Dalles–Boise Military Wagon Road, was wagon road that operated 1868 and 1870. It ran from Fort Boise via Canyon City, Oregon to the Columbia River. During that time vast amounts of freight were conveyed by pack trains, and freight companies.

Thomas and Ruckle Road

Route 9T1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Bingham Springs, Umatilla, OR

near Telocaset, Union Co., OR

In 1864-65 George Thomas and Colonel J. S. Ruckle planned and built this wagon road over the Blue Mountains located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington of Oregon. The road ran from the northwest to the southeast, offering a more direct connection to the Walla Walla Valley. AKA. Ruckles Road or Ruckels Road

Truckee Route

Route 9T2; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

near Ocala, Churchhill Co., NV

Sierra County, California

This major branch of the California Trail was established in 1844 by the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party to travel over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 1845, Caleb Greenwood and his three sons developed a new route that by-passed Truckee River Canyon and crossed the Sierra crest through 7,000 feet (2,100 m) Donner Pass. Johnson’s Ranch was the last stop on the Emigrant Trail to Sutter's Fort. See also in section 8, (Western Mt. States), Truckee Route in Nevada 9T2(NV)

Truckee Route in California

Route 9T2(CA); Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

New York City, New York

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Route 9X1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)

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Victory Highway

Route 9V1; Info. Link (1); Map (1); Images (1)