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California National Historic Trail Early snowfall trapped the Donner & Reed wagon train at this site in late October of 1846.
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California National Historic Trail
Support Your Park
Volunteers from the California-Nevada chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) complete the installation of a new interpretive exhibit.

Frank Tortorich - the Oregon-California Trails Association.

OCTA volunteers along the Carson Route of the California NHT.

Get Involved

Visits to national parks inspire people to plan another trip, to tell their friends about their experience, and often, to ask how they can help. We love that!

There are a number of ways that you can help support the work of the National Park Service as it endeavors to provide opportunities for Americans and travelers from around the world to learn about the significance of the California National Historic Trail, and protect and preserve the historic remnants of the trail.

You can:

  • Volunteer (information about volunteering with the National Park Service and the Volunteer Application form)
  • Tell us what you think
  • Partner with the NPS - there are a number of partnership associations with strong interests in promoting awareness the trail as well as marking and preserving the historic trail route(s) that we would encourage you to seek out if you have a desire to lend your support.
  • Do your part
  • Revitalize your community
The National Park Service, for the most part, does not own or manage the lands the California NHT crosses over. Therefore, we rely heavily on the work and the efforts of our many partner organizations to accomplish our mission. Please be sure to visit our Partner pages to see how you might become involved.

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The Silver Mountains and Bonneville Salt Flats along the Nevada and Utah border.

Did You Know?
After struggling across nearly 100 miles of salt flats and soft, wet sand in Utah's Great Salt Lake Desert in the late summer of 1846, the Donner-Reed wagon train reached the Silver Mountains and fresh water just north of this location along Interstate 80 near the Nevada/Utah border.
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Last Updated: July 20, 2011 at 14:42 MST