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California National Historic TrailDuring the Gold Rush, new jumping-off places were developed further up the Missouri River such as this one at St Joseph, Missouri to shorten
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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 pause for a picture after installing an interpretive exhibit 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.



And the answers to how you can help are as varied as the people who ask.

You can:

volunteer (information about volunteering with the National Park Service and the Volunteer Application form)

tell us what you think

make a donation

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.

Oregon, California, & Mormon emigrants, as well as Pony Express riders traveled over South Pass, Wyoming  

Did You Know?
Until discovered by William Sublette in the 1830s, most Americans thought the Rocky Mountains were impassable. Lewis and Clark passed through the Rockies north of this location, via the Missouri River in 1805.
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Last Updated: September 21, 2009 at 13:08 EST