California National Historic Trail
California National Historic Trail is part of the National Trails System. It is not a park unit.
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.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
There are no user or entry fees for the California National Historic Trail. Nominal fees may be charged at some trail-related federal, state, or locally owned historic sites and interpretive facilities. Please contact individual sites for more specific fee information.
Hours
| California National Historic Trail | Daily · All Day |
Visitor centers
- The California Trail Interpretive Center ↗Passport stamp
Between 1841 and 1869, up to 250,000 people sold their belongings, packed wagons, and set out for California. The California Trail Interpretive Center ,operated by the Bureau of Land Management, offers dioramas and interactive exhibits that immerse the visitor in the trail experience of those who…
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Trails and hikes
These are the walks the Park Service lists for California. Each one opens on the Park Service site.
- Become a California Trail Junior Ranger
Learn about the California Trail and earn your junior ranger badge! This activity can be completed virtually or after visiting a site along the California National Historic Trail. Worksheets can be submitted either electronically or by mail.
- Birdwatching on the California Trail
Emigrants on the California Trail were introduced to many new plants and animals as they made their journey west. With over 2,000 miles of trail, through countless habitats, there are a number of places where you can have a similar experience! The…
- Go See Oregon Trail Ruts
One of the best ways to experience the Oregon Trail is by taking a step back in time while visiting a trail rut. Luckily, there are still places where you can have that experience today.
- Hike on the California Trail
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.
- Horseback Riding on the California Trail
Take a ride back in time on the California Trail! The variety of opportunities ranges from historic landscapes to modern views, and from short to longer trail rides.
- Check out Museums and Visitor Centers along the California Trail
There are a variety of museums and visitor centers along the California Trail. In some places, you may find more interpretive exhibits, information, and programs.
These are named Forest Service trails on National Forest land within 15 miles of California. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured to the nearer end of the trail. Every named Forest Service trail on Trailhead Atlas.
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for California's national parks
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks
Questions people ask
Does California charge an entrance fee?
No. California is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
Is California open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
Nearby units
