California National Historic Trail Custom Search The California Trail carried over 200,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history. Today, more than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast, reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers. More than 240 historic sites along the trail will eventually be available for public use and interpretation. The California Trail system (more than 5,500 miles) was developed over a period of years, and numerous cutoffs and alternate routes were tried to see which was the 'best' in terms of terrain, length and sufficient water and grass for livestock. The general route began at various jumping off points along the Missouri River and stretched to various points in California, Oregon, and the Sierra Nevada. The specific route that emigrants and forty-niners used depended on their starting point in Missouri, their final destination in California, the condition of their wagons and livestock, and yearly changes in water and forage along the different routes. The trail passes through the states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and California.   CONTACTS Email - CALI_Interpretation@nps.gov Fax- 801-539-4098 Write to 324 South State St., Suite 250 PO Box 45155 Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0155 Phone Headquarters - (801)539-4095 TRAVEL BASICS Weather & Climate For information about weather and travel conditions along the California Trail, contact local offices of the Bureau of Land Management, the National Forest Service, or state tourism. Accessibility For information on the accessibility of facilities along the California Trail, contact the National Park Service Long Distance Trails Office, or local offices of the Bureau of Land Management, the National Forest Service, or state tourism.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near California National Historic Trail.   Campgrounds Near California National Historic Trail: Albion Basin - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Anderson Cove - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Guinavah - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Jordan Pines - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Ledgefork - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Lower Provo - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away Moosehorn - Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, 1 miles away   Marinas Near California National Historic Trail: Majestic Boat Owners, Ogden , 19 miles away   Hotels Near California National Historic Trail: Hampton Inn Salt Lake CityDowntown, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake CityDowntown, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Residence Inn Salt Lake City - City Center, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Crystal Inn Hotel and Suites Salt Lake City-Downtown, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away SpringHill Suites Salt Lake City Downtown, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City Downtown, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Oakwood Downtown Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away   Trails Near California National Historic Trail: The Sheep Trail, Salt Lake County , 16 miles away Lake Desolation Trail, Salt Lake County , 20 miles away   Beaches Near California National Historic Trail: Saltair Beach, Salt Lake County , 19 miles away   Ski Areas Near California National Historic Trail: Snowbird, Utah , 19 miles away, 3240 foot drop, 13 lifts, 85 runs Alta, Utah , 20 miles away, 2020 foot drop, 12 lifts, 54 runs Solitude, Utah , 22 miles away, 2047 foot drop, 8 lifts, 65 runs Brighton, Utah , 23 miles away, 1745 foot drop, 6 lifts, 66 runs Snowbasin, Utah , 24 miles away, 2959 foot drop, 12 lifts, 113 runs The Canyons, Utah , 24 miles away, 3190 foot drop, 19 lifts, 167 runs Park City Mountain Resort, Utah , 28 miles away, 3100 foot drop, 14 lifts, 100 runs Wolf Mountain, Utah , 29 miles away, 1000 foot drop, 2 lifts, 16 runs Deer Valley, Utah , 29 miles away, 3000 foot drop, 22 lifts, 99 runs Sundance, Utah , 29 miles away, 2150 foot drop, 3 lifts, 41 runs   Whitewater Near California National Historic Trail: Whitewater Outfitter - Walton Marine, Salt Lake County , 3 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Holiday Expeditions, Salt Lake County , 4 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Colorado River and Trail Expeditions, Salt Lake County , 5 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Utah Outventures, Salt Lake County , 6 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Raftin Styles, Salt Lake County , 6 miles away, Whitewater outfitter   Public Lands Near California National Historic Trail: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, UT , 0 miles away Oregon National Historic Trail, Salt Lake City - UT , 0 miles away Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork - UT , 29 miles away Jordan River State Park, Utah , 3 miles away This Is The Place State Park, Utah , 6 miles away Great Salt Lake State Park, Utah , 21 miles away East Canyon State Park, Utah , 23 miles away   Golf Courses Near California National Historic Trail: Casablanca Hotel-Casino-Golf-Spa, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Old Mill Golf Course, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away University Golf Course, Salt Lake City , 0 miles away Salt Lake City Golf Courses, Salt Lake Cty , 1 miles away Central Valley Golf Course, Salt Lake City , 3 miles away   Lakes Near California National Historic Trail Decker Lake, Salt Lake County , 4 miles away Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, Salt Lake County , 16 miles away Smith Creek Lakes, Morgan County , 16 miles away