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Oregon Trail

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 10, 2022 | Original: December 6, 2017

Lupine grows next to wagon wheel ruts made by wagon trains crossing the South Pass on the Oregon Trail. South Pass is the highest point in elevation on the trail.

The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, that was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west. The trail was arduous and snaked through Missouri and present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and finally into Oregon. Without the Oregon Trail and the passing of the Oregon Donation Land Act in 1850, which encouraged settlement in the Oregon Territory, American pioneers would have been slower to settle the American West in the 19th century.

Missionaries Blaze the Oregon Trail

By the 1840s, the Manifest Destiny had Americans in the East eager to expand their horizons. While Lewis and Clark had made their way west from 1804 to 1806, merchants, traders and trappers were also among the first people to forge a path across the Continental Divide.

But it was missionaries who really blazed the Oregon Trail. Merchant Nathaniel Wyeth in 1834 led the first religious group, in addition to traders and naturalists, west to present-day Idaho , where they built an outpost.

Marcus Whitman

Determined to spread Christianity to American Indians on the frontier, doctor and Protestant missionary Marcus Whitman set out on horseback from the Northeast in 1835 to prove that the westward trail to Oregon could be traversed safely and further than ever before.

Whitman’s first attempt took him as far the Green River Rendezvous, a meeting place for fur trappers and traders in the Rocky Mountains near present-day Daniel, Wyoming . Upon returning home, Whitman married and set out again, this time with his young wife Narcissa and another Protestant missionary couple.

The party made it to the Green River Rendezvous, then faced a grueling journey along Native American trails across the Rockies using Hudson Bay Company trappers as guides. They finally reached Fort Vancouver, Washington , and built missionary posts nearby—Whitman’s post was at Waiilatpu amid the Cayuse Indians.

Whitman’s small party had proved both men and women could travel west, although not easily. Narcissa’s accounts of the journey were published in the East and slowly more missionaries and settlers followed their path which became known as the Whitman Mission Route.

In 1842, the Whitman mission was closed by the American Missionary Board, and Whitman went back to the East on horseback where he lobbied for continued funding of his mission work. In the meantime, missionary Elijah White led over 100 pioneers across the Oregon Trail.

Great Emigration of 1843

When Whitman headed west yet again, he met up with a huge wagon train destined for Oregon. The group included 120 wagons, about 1,000 people and thousands of livestock. Their trek began on May 22 and lasted five months.

It effectively opened the floodgates of pioneer migration along the Oregon Trail and became known as the Great Emigration of 1843 .

Upon Whitman’s return to his mission, his main goal shifted from converting American Indians to assisting white settlers. As more settlers arrived, the Cayuse resisted their encroachment.

After a measles epidemic broke out in 1847, the Cayuse population was decimated, despite Whitman using his medical knowledge to help them.

In the ongoing conflict, Whitman, his wife and some of the mission staff were killed; many more were taken hostage for over a month. The incident sparked a seven-year war between the Cayuse and the federal government.

Life on the Oregon Trail

Planning a five- to six-month trip across rugged terrain was no easy task and could take up to a year. Emigrants had to sell their homes, businesses and any possessions they couldn’t take with them. They also had to purchase hundreds of pounds of supplies including flour, sugar, bacon, coffee, salt, rifles and ammunition.

By far, the most important item for successful life on the trail was the covered wagon. It had to be sturdy enough to withstand the elements yet small and light enough for a team of oxen or mules to pull day after day.

Most wagons were about six feet wide and twelve feet long. They were usually made of seasoned hardwood and covered with a large, oiled canvas stretched over wood frames. In addition to food supplies, the wagons were laden with water barrels, tar buckets and extra wheels and axles.

Contrary to popular belief, most of the wagons that journeyed the Oregon Trail were prairie schooners and not larger, heavier Conestoga wagons .

A map showing the westward trail from Missouri to Oregon.

Oregon Trail Route

It was critical for travelers to leave in April or May if they hoped to reach Oregon before the winter snows began. Leaving in late spring also ensured there’d be ample grass along the way to feed livestock.

As the Oregon Trail gained popularity, it wasn’t unusual for thousands of pioneers to be on the path at the same time, especially during the California Gold Rush . Depending on the terrain, wagons traveled side by side or single file.

There were slightly different paths for reaching Oregon but, for the most part, settlers crossed the Great Plains until they reached their first trading post at Fort Kearny, Nebraska , averaging between ten and fifteen miles per day.

From Fort Kearney, they followed the Platte River over 600 miles to Fort Laramie, Wyoming , and then ascended the Rocky Mountains where they faced hot days and cold nights. Summer thunderstorms were common and made traveling slow and treacherous.

Independence Rock

The settlers gave a sigh of relief if they reached Independence Rock —a huge granite rock in Wyoming that marked the halfway point of their journey—by July 4 because it meant they were on schedule. So many people added their name to the rock it became known as the “Great Register of the Desert.”

After leaving Independence Rock, settlers climbed the Rocky Mountains to the South Pass. Then they crossed the desert to Fort Hall , the second trading post.

From there they navigated Snake River Canyon and a steep, dangerous climb over the Blue Mountains before moving along the Columbia River to the settlement of The Dalles and finally to Oregon City. Some people continued south into California , especially after the Gold Rush started in 1849.

Dangers on the Oregon Trail

Many settlers looked at the Oregon Trail with an idealistic eye, but it was anything but romantic. According to the Oregon California Trails Association , almost one in ten who embarked on the trail didn’t survive.

Most people died of diseases such as dysentery, cholera , smallpox or flu , or in accidents caused by inexperience, exhaustion and carelessness. It was not uncommon for people to be crushed beneath wagon wheels or accidentally shot to death, and many people drowned during perilous river crossings.

Travelers often left warning messages to those journeying behind them if there was an outbreak of disease, bad water or hostile Native American tribes nearby. As more and more settlers headed west, the Oregon Trail became a well-beaten path and an abandoned junkyard of surrendered possessions. It also became a graveyard for tens of thousands of pioneer men, women, children and countless livestock.

Over time, conditions along the Oregon Trail improved. Bridges and ferries were built to make water crossings safer. Settlements and additional supply posts appeared along the way which gave weary travelers a place to rest and regroup.

Trail guides wrote guidebooks, so settlers no longer had to bring an escort with them on their journey. Unfortunately, however, not all the books were accurate and left some settlers lost and in danger of running out of provisions.

The End of the Oregon Trail

With the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in Utah in 1869, westward wagon trains decreased significantly as settlers chose the faster and more reliable mode of transportation.

Still, as towns were established along the Oregon Trail, the route continued to serve thousands of emigrants with “gold fever” on their way to California. It was also a main thoroughfare for massive cattle drives between 1866 and 1888.

By 1890, the railroads had all but eliminated the need to journey thousands of miles in a covered wagon. Settlers from the east were more than happy to hop on a train and arrive in the West in one week instead of six months.

Although modern progress ended the need for the Oregon Trail, its historical significance could not be ignored. The National Park Service created the Oregon National Historic Trail in 1981 and continues to educate the public on its importance.

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About This Game

Experience the oregon trail™ like never before, always a new adventure.

Build and name your party from different classes—each with their own starting items, skills, and personalities—to make every journey to Oregon unique.
Overcome hundreds of random events where your choices affect the fate of your travelers, and are influenced by their unique skills and traits.
Remember to take care of your party, wagon, and oxen, or they’ll become casualties of the trail.

Fresh Features

Take on 15 playable Journeys.
Experience 7 Quests inspired by historical events.
Monitor your party members’ health, morale, stamina and hygiene.
Manage your inventory to squeeze everything you can into the wagon.
Maintain your wagon to prevent breakdowns and inventory loss from spoiling or spillage.
Learn about real people and places in your interactive Journal.
Collect and learn about the many interesting animals you’ll see on the trail.
Catch 80+ species in the new Fishing mini-game.
Obtain 140+ achievements.

True to the Original

Hunting and Rafting make a long-awaited return, with faithful gameplay and all-new visuals.
Dysentery, river fording, broken legs, and many more classic hazards await!

Striking Art Direction and Score

A beautiful blend of charming pixel art characters, 3D environments and cutting-edge lighting and visual effects creates a unique visual style that’s both nostalgic and contemporary.
An all-original soundtrack of alt-country-inspired music combined with 8-bit-style sound effects.

Respectful Representation

For the first time, the game features Native American playable characters and stories, celebrating the history and cultures of the peoples who first lived on this land and still live here today.
Thorough research and multiple academic consultants were involved in this game’s production to ensure accuracy and respectful representation of all peoples depicted in the game.

Officially Licensed & Supported

The Oregon Trail™ is an officially licensed game from HarperCollins Productions, who supported the evolution of The Oregon Trail™ so it would be true to the original, but with updated gameplay and visuals.
2016 Video Game Hall of Fame inductee.

System Requirements

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Quad Core Processor
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 1500 MB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Processor: Octa Core Processor
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660

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Oregon Trail

1 Understand
4.1 Independence, Missouri
4.2 Across Nebraska
4.3 Chimney Rock & Fort Laramie
4.4.1 Wrong trail. Lose 3-4 days.
4.5 Snake River Crossing
4.6 The Dalles
4.7 Oregon!
6 Stay safe
7.1 See also

The Oregon Trail is a 2,200 mi (3,500 km) National Historic Trail across the United States , traditionally beginning in Independence , Missouri and crossing the states of Nebraska , Wyoming , and Idaho before ending near the Pacific coast in Oregon City , Oregon .

An estimated 400,000 settlers used the Oregon Trail or other Emigrant Trail branches to migrate west between the early 1830s and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Today, the memory of the Oregon Trail lives on in books, cinema, and tales of the Old West . Countless more have undertaken the journey – at least vicariously – through one of the earliest (and greatest) educational computer games, The Oregon Trail .

The Oregon National Historic Trail is today's recreation of the trail, maintained by the National Park Service.

Understand [ edit ]

The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition opened the Northwest for white settlement, and marked the beginning of the Wild West era. The "mountain men" and fur traders who traveled upstream in the early 19th century were few. The first known mountain passes were barely adequate for a horse and rider.

As better routes were found, wagon trails gradually were built westward, laying the groundwork for the Great Migration of 1843 . Nearly a thousand settlers crossed the Rocky Mountains in that single year. The Organic Act of the Oregon Territory (1843) granted 640 acres (a square mile, 2.56 km²) of free homestead land per couple in the vast Oregon Territory, which covered what is now Washington state , Oregon , Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Montana . The weakened position of southern states during the American Civil War (1861–1865) gave U.S. federal authorities free rein to promote homesteading and westward expansion. Unimproved homestead land was often free or available for as little as $1.25/acre.

The Emigrant Trail flooded with Oregon-bound homesteaders (1843–1854), who were soon followed by Mormon pioneers (1846–1847) and California gold rush prospectors (1849) heading west. Travelling by wagon, an average group of migrants could complete the Oregon Trail in about six months.

Weather was a major concern; as some mountain passes and river crossings went from treacherous to impossible in winter , expeditions departed in early spring to give time for safe arrival. Hundreds of settlers travelled together as large wagon trains, keeping mutual assistance available in time of need. Migrants traded with other travellers when supplies ran low, abandoning items on the trail when wagons became too heavy for animals to pull. An ox-drawn cart at two miles an hour would need to crawl ten hours a day for more than a hundred days to cover the 2,200-mile trail – and obstacles and delays routinely increased that time. Horses were faster but more expensive, and needed to be fed, while an ox could graze like a cow. Mules had their own stubborn characteristics.

The people and animals often needed to stop for food and water, resting if they were injured or had fallen ill. At night, groups circled the wagons with the livestock in the middle to prevent animals from being stolen or wandering away. On arrival, a successful party could claim contiguous 320-acre parcels for each adult in an entire extended family. Arriving early meant a better chance of claiming prime locations with control over river valleys with water for irrigation.

From 1843–1869, four hundred thousand brave pioneers had heeded the call to "go west, young man", making the arduous trip on trails and infrastructure which had seen few gradual improvements. Some split from the path to colonize Utah or join the California gold rush and some safely reached Oregon's Willamette Valley . Quite a few did not survive the long and arduous journey.

And then, almost overnight, it was over. On May 10, 1869 the Last Spike was driven in tiny Corinne , Utah, thereby joining the Union and Central Pacific railroads; a journey that had taken half a year was abruptly reduced to one week. Where travel by wagon might have cost $200 per person, the train fare was $60 and that with a roof over everybody's heads. It wasn't much of a choice. Before long, the Oregon Trail was a relic of a bygone age, of hardy adventurers and America's first age of westward migration. In movie serials and cheap westerns, the Oregon Trail became a scene for danger and derring-do, full of sinister forces determined to prey upon innocent settlers and tragedy around every bend.

However, the story of the Oregon Trail had a surprising turn ahead. In 1971, a student teacher and amateur programmer named Don Rawitsch created a text-based computer game for his eighth grade history class called The Oregon Trail . On-line gameplay was BASIC and primitive, relying on expensive terminals linked to a distant time-sharing system. As the frontiers of desktop computing advanced, subsequent Oregon Trail versions added graphics, more choices for players to make, and dire consequences for their mistakes.

On The Oregon Trail , students had to name their characters and then subject their creations to mortal peril, from starvation to disease and injuries of every kind. Unlike any other educational game, characters could die ; as holding no funeral for a deceased traveller would cause morale of the party to decline, the game allowed players to erect gravestones (usually with profane epitaphs) for subsequent players to find. Players had to choose whether to interact with natives , buy or beg for aid, examine landmarks like Chimney Rock – and, in later versions, hunt for food in a mini-game whose environmentalist message could almost be heard over the howls of bloodthirsty kids. Befuddled teachers found themselves mediating fights between students over whether capsizing a wagon in the Snake River was accidental or a deliberate attempt to lose unwanted members of the party, and who wrote what about whom on a tombstone by the Blue Mountains .

Ported to the Apple ][ in 1979, the Macintosh and IBM PC in 1990, and to game consoles and smartphones in 2011, the game was actually quite good at teaching the history of the Oregon Trail. And, above all else, it was fun .

This itinerary is designed to cover major sights from the real Oregon Trail and the computer game alike. While a full checklist of every wagon rut and historical marker would take months, the goal of this journey is simply to see the vastness of the land, as the original settlers would have experienced it long before steam power and rail travel slashed the duration of a trip around the world from the original three years to a mere eighty days .

Prepare [ edit ]

In the pioneer era, this lengthy journey required careful planning. A farmer often already owned wagons and oxen, but many supplies needed to be purchased and unnecessary items kept off the wagons to keep weight down. Dried, salted or tinned foodstuffs were chosen as they could be preserved for long periods of time. Firearms and ammunition allowed hunting to stretch limited food stocks, if the traveller was skilled in their use. Supplies and skills to repair damaged wagons or treat injured voyagers were essential; opportunities to acquire needed items en route were few and prices became progressively worse as the pioneer ventured further into the hinterland.

Today, the trail can be spread out over a week without much difficulty.

It's a good trip for summer, between June and August. Too early or too late in the year may find some roads impassable due to snow, particularly in Wyoming, and some sights are closed between November and March. Summer will be hot but manageable as long as you carry sunscreen (and your wagon has air conditioning). There will be some long days on the road, so it would be wise to choose a comfortable vehicle and agree upon a code of conduct among the members of your travel party.

You can stock up on provisions at the start of the trail in Independence or Kansas City. While prices have risen since Matt's General Store was selling foodstuffs at $0.20/lb in the game, there are many places to eat meals and buy snacks each day along the trail. With prices and selection largely consistent along the route, there is no need to load hundreds of pounds of supplies into wagons at the trailhead.

Trail-side accommodations of all sorts are available. Major hotel chains can be found off the interstates, while there are motels with local charm (for better or worse) in smaller towns on state routes. There are plenty of campgrounds , which may be closer to the conditions in which early pioneers slept when circling the wagons for the night. Reservations may be necessary during the height of summer in national parks .

The U.S. National Park Service is a good source of information on the Oregon National Historic Trail ; their site includes downloadable maps, brochures and state-by-state Auto Tour Route interpretive guides which may be invaluable when trying to follow the historic trail using multiple modern roads and highways.

Get in [ edit ]

The journey begins in Independence (Missouri) , which is directly southeast of Kansas City , Missouri .

Kansas City has been a rail transport hub since 1865, having seen a dozen railways come and go over the years. Amtrak 's Missouri River Runner reaches KCMO from St. Louis today, with onward connections to Chicago . Well served by highways, Kansas City ( MCI IATA ) is also the nearest major airport ; several rental car firms operate from the Kansas City airport, downtown Kansas City or Independence.

Go [ edit ]

Independence, missouri [ edit ].

Day 1 Distance: 20 mi (32 km) Pace: Steady

The National Frontier Trails Museum in 39.08 -94.43 1 Independence is the perfect place to get into an Oregon Trail state of mind:

39.0868 -94.4195 1 National Frontier Trails Museum , 318 W. Pacific, Independence , ☏ +1 816 325-7575 , fax : +1 816 325-7579 . M-Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Su 12:30-4:30PM, open year-round . Dedicated to several pioneer trails and America's westward migration as a whole, beginning with Lewis & Clark and the early fur trappers, but some fun exhibits challenge you to prepare as a pioneer would. Be sure to gather your travel party for a run at the test wagon. It's surrounded by shelves of weighted sacks of supplies like bullets, beans, and biscuits for you to choose; an alarm goes off if you overload the wagon. This is a great opportunity to argue about who would last how long on the trail without bacon or coffee and really stir up some emotions at the outset. Tales of woe from the trail, artifacts that were abandoned by actual emigrants, and heated debates over the relative merits of mules vs. oxen. $6, $5/seniors, $3/kids .

As the birthplace of U.S. President Harry Truman, Independence boasts a few memorials to its favorite son; as he was born 20 years after the heyday of the Oregon Trail, it's best to try to ignore them.

The 39.0935 -94.4154 2 1859 Jail and Marshal's Home is period appropriate, in case you'd like to get further into the mindset. It's open April to October.

Having stocked up on supplies, make it an early night, because tomorrow the journey begins in earnest.

Across Nebraska [ edit ]

Day 2 Distance: 555 mi (893 km) Pace: Strenuous

This is a lot of driving for one day, but you might as well cover a lot of ground while spirits are high and the members of your party are still getting along. (The day could be split in half around Kearney if you prefer, but there aren't many trail-related sights in eastern Nebraska, so it will be a flat start to your trip.)

Starting from Independence , take I-435 N to I-29 N toward 41.27 -96.03 2 Omaha . Carry on to 40.83 -96.7 3 Lincoln , where you'll pick up I-80 W. Either Omaha or Lincoln will make a good stop for lunch. This should get you to Fort Kearny in 40.7 -99.085 4 Kearney , Nebraska with enough time to poke around:

Once you're west of 41.146 -100.761 5 North Platte , you can begin looking for somewhere to spend the night. If you'd like to get off the Interstate, pick up Route 26 just west of 41.125 -101.718 6 Ogallala . The landscape changes very quickly from acres of corn to rolling hills and gorges, lone trees, and distant rock formations. There's an Oregon Trail Trading Post in 41.326 -102.129 7 Lewellen , which is good for fuel, supplies, and taxidermy, and there are some motels as you head northwest, the best of which are in the town of 41.67 -103.1 8 Bridgeport (which also has a decent spread of restaurants and cafés).

Chimney Rock & Fort Laramie [ edit ]

Day 3 Distance: 220 mi (350 km) Pace: Steady

Get an early start, because this will be a great day. West on Route 26 (which becomes Highway 92) is one of the best sights of the trail.

You have reached Chimney Rock . Would you like to look around?

Down the road is a small 41.699 -103.3406 4 historic cemetery that is also worth a stop. Out front is a sign about the rigors of the trail and those who died along the way. There are gravestones erected in the last few years for ancestors who are buried in the vicinity of the cemetery, and older gravestones for people who died some 20-30 years after the end of the trail.

Back on Route 26/Highway 92, head northwest until you reach the town of 41.88 -103.66 9 Scottsbluff . Nearby is the 41.836 -103.708 5 Scotts Bluff National Monument , another important landmark on the trail. Stick with Route 26 when it splits from Highway 92 on the other side of Scottsbluff and head northwest. Like the original emigrants, you are following the Platte River, and will soon cross the state border into Wyoming.

The next major stop is 42.213 -104.518 10 Fort Laramie , with a national historic site near the town of the same name. Turn left from Route 26 to Highway 160 and the fort will be 3 mi (4.8 km) down the road.

As you continue west, you'll begin to see signs excitedly advertising the presence of "wagon ruts." These are tracks that were worn into stone by the wheels of countless wagons and remain intact today. The best known are the 42.257 -104.749 7 Guernsey Ruts , three miles south of the town of 42.2698 -104.7415 11 Guernsey (which is about 13 mi (21 km) west of Fort Laramie). They're certainly worth a look to soak up some of the atmosphere the settlers would have experienced. The site is open year-round. Look for the gloriously overheated prose of the Works Progress Administration historic sign nearby.

Route 26 will end at I-25. Head north to 42.855 -106.297 12 Casper , which is a good place to stop for the night. 42.836306 -106.370799 8 Fort Caspar Museum is a reconstructed 1865 fort at a major crossroads of several trails heading West. The Fort buildings are open April to October, while the museum of both Fort and regional history is open year round.

Independence Rock [ edit ]

Day 4 Distance: 350 mi (560 km) Pace: Strenuous

Wyoming has done a particularly nice job commemorating the state's ties to the Oregon Trail. There are plenty of historical markers along the way, ranging from little white marble blocks saying 'Oregon Trail' to big, grandiose signs from the 1930s and school lectures from the 1980s. But this is also the state where following the original route takes you furthest afield, so have your navigation and supplies in order before you set out.

From Casper, head southwest on Highway 220 for about 55 mi (89 km), and look for signs for a rest area – with smaller signs referring to a historic site nearby.

You have reached Independence Rock . Would you like to look around?

This is another of the trail's most iconic sights:

Another trail waypoint, 42.449 -107.21 10 Devil's Gate , is ahead on Highway 220. The "gate" is a gap in a mountain ridge, carved by a river long ago, which opens to a pretty scenic vista.

Highway 220 ends shortly afterward at Highway 287, near the town of 42.352 -107.457 13 Muddy Gap . You can take Highway 287 south to join I-80 W, but an interesting detour lies nearby. (Check your fuel before you commit, because there will be no service stations for a while.) Take 287 northwest past the near-ghost town of Jeffrey City and Sweetwater Station to Highway 28, which you can take southwest. On a hillside is another near-ghost town called 42.497 -108.731 14 Atlantic City , which has some eccentric art and an occasionally open café, and an actual ghost town , 42.468 -108.802 15 South Pass City . Visitors are welcome to wander around this atmospheric mining town, which has several surviving buildings in various states of preservation. The site is overseen by a passionate group of volunteers who will be glad to share information about the history of the area. There's also a surprisingly large souvenir shop. While it can get really hot here, the scenery alone is worth the detour.

Highway 28 meanders south to meet Route 191 at a crossroads in the small town of 42.109 -109.448 16 Farson (which has a gas station). Turn left (south) to meet I-80 W at 41.587 -109.203 17 Rock Springs , where you can find a place to sleep for the night, or...

Wrong trail. Lose 3-4 days. [ edit ]

At this point, the members of your travelling party could probably use some time outside of the car. If hiking or overnight camping sounds appealing, then take a break from the trail and enjoy two of America's most spectacular national parks: 43.78 -110.68 1 Grand Teton National Park and 44.42 -110.57 2 Yellowstone National Park .

Leave I-80 W at Rock Springs to take Route 191 north; or, if you took the South Pass City detour, follow Highway 28 west until the crossroads in Farson, and then turn right to go north on Route 191. The road will join Route 189 and lead directly into 43.48 -110.762 3 Jackson Hole , a tourist town that serves as gateway to the Tetons. (This route winds uphill through the mountains, and while an average driver will be fine in more or less any vehicle, it may be tough for inexperienced drivers, particularly at night, and should not be attempted during winter weather without precaution and experience, assuming the road is even open.)

Continuing north, you'll find Yellowstone, and accommodations should be easy to find in surrounding towns such as 44.645 -111.104 4 West Yellowstone .

Hunting was one of the most popular parts of the computer game, offering an out for players who failed to buy enough food in Independence or at one of the forts along the way. Hence, the opportunity to see Yellowstone's majestic herds – and possibly even bears, from a very safe distance – is practically a must for fans of the game. (Bison top sirloin is on the menu at a few of Yellowstone's restaurants, for anyone who would like to extend the verisimilitude.)

When you're ready to rejoin the trail, take Route 287 north from West Yellowstone, then I-90 W for a short distance to I-15 S.

Snake River Crossing [ edit ]

Day 5 Distance: 290 mi (470 km) Pace: Strenuous

If you are rejoining the trail via I-15 S, you could make one further stop at 43.205 -113.5 11 Craters of the Moon National Monument , which is well worth the visit off Route 26 (which joins with Routes 20 & 93). A northern spur of the Oregon Trail ran through the Craters of the Moon area; in search of a safe alternative to travel through Shoshone and Bannock Indian lands, a mountain man named Tim Goodale led a party of 1,095 people in 338 wagons through the bumpy lava flows in this area, and soon 43.301 -115.315 18 Goodale's Cutoff overtook the original section of the trail in popularity.

Routes 20/26/93 will diverge, but all three will join I-84 W eventually, and then you're back on the main trail heading west.

If you didn't detour at all, take I-80 W from Rock Springs toward the state border. Fort Bridger, another trading post, is next to the interstate near a tiny hamlet of the same name:

At this point the Oregon Trail turns north from Fort Bridger, while the Mormon Trail continues 100 miles westward to the Salt Lake Valley .

Retracing the original trail gets a little complicated here. Take Highway 189 north to Route 30, then travel west on Route 30; when it branches, follow the route north toward 42.085 -110.948 19 Cokeville instead of over the border into Utah. Route 30 will continue into Idaho through 42.3224 -111.2974 20 Montpelier and 42.655 -111.604 21 Soda Springs . Continue on Route 30 until it merges with I-15 N in 42.66 -112.2 22 McCammon , then stick with Route 30 through 42.87 -112.45 23 Pocatello to meet up with I-86 W, which will eventually become I-84 W.

This section of the trail follows the Snake River through a long, hot stretch of Idaho. Unlike the original settlers, you will not need to make any special effort to cross the Snake River. Unfortunately, few sights of note remain. You'll pass by the city of 43.02 -112.635 24 Fort Hall , which was named for another trading post; the actual fort and its namesake successor are long gone, though, leaving just a replica at Pocatello.

About 10 mi (16 km) west of 42.785 -112.854 25 American Falls , 42.681 -112.984 2 Massacre Rocks State Park shows why voyagers wanted to avoid the Shoshone and Bannock tribes. Ten emigrants were killed here in 1862, just east of the park. Today, the park offers campgrounds, access to the Snake River, and some wagon ruts. Look for 42.6524 -113.0167 13 Register Rock , a boulder where travellers carved their initials. (It's now protected by a shelter and fence.) The park is open year-round.

The Snake River and Raft River split 15 mi (24 km) further southwest; California -bound prospectors part ways here to head southwest to Nevada .

For those continuing to Oregon, the 43.618 -116.216 26 Boise area makes a good place to stop for the night. The 43.5423 -116.11 3 Oregon Trail Reserve (E Lake Forest Dr & Idaho Rte 21) includes a mile of the original trail for hiking and sightseeing on 77 acres of city parkland, at a point where wagons crossed the Boise River.

The Dalles [ edit ]

Day 6 Distance: 338 mi (544 km) Pace: Steady

Crossing the border into Oregon (and pausing for a brief celebration), take I-84 W toward 44.78 -117.83 27 Baker City . You'll soon have your first sight of the Blue Mountains, which travellers knew meant the end of the journey was near; they usually reached this point by late August or September.

As a side trip, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway ends at Baker City; if you're doing well on time and the weather is favourable, it is well worth a look to soak up more of the scenery.

When you're ready to move on, continue west on I-84, which meets and follows the famous Columbia River from 45.84 -119.7 28 Boardman onward. The Columbia drains into the Pacific Ocean near Astoria ; it was the primary inland route for European traders and settlers, and today is popular for both windsurfers and hydroelectric dams. (Hard to say which an Oregon-bound expedition would have found stranger.)

45.6 -121.14 29 The Dalles is a good place to make camp for the night. There are a couple hotels away from town, near the river, which should add to the excitement. Tomorrow...

Oregon! [ edit ]

Day 7 Distance: 93 mi (150 km) Pace: Steady

It is strongly recommended that you become insufferable in your period-appropriate speech and behavior, and if you have been saving a good Oregon Trail game t-shirt, now is the time to don it. Because the Willamette Valley is at hand.

An emigrant party would have faced a difficult decision at The Dalles . There was no trail beyond this point, due to 45.3735 -121.696 32 Mount Hood . Pioneers had to convert their wagons to rafts and float down the Columbia River, which carried considerable danger, or shell out a whopping $5 or more to travel the eighty-mile Barlow Toll Road. This mountain road was steep and winding, with wagons pulled on ropes along grades of up to 60% at some points.

Today, you may keep your wagon dry and avoid the Barlow Road by driving west along the south shore of the Columbia River on I-84 (US30) through the 45.723 -121.572 4 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – a good place for hiking and natural scenery.

With civilization soon surrounding you, I-84 W will join I-205 S.

Take exit 9 into 45.36 -122.61 33 Oregon City where Abernethy Green, George and Anna Abernethy's 640-acre homestead along the Willamette River, formerly represented the end of the Oregon Trail. This encampment and adjacent properties would fill rapidly with wagon loads of poor and exhausted pioneers seeking shelter from their first Oregon winter. Once here, they could resupply in Oregon City, scout possible homestead locations and file claims at the General Land Office. The original site was destroyed by flooding in 1861; by then, travel time along the Oregon Trail had been nearly halved and emigrants no longer needed to winter over. A visitor center now stands in its place:

45.365 -122.595 15 End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center , 1726 Washington St, Oregon City ( at Abernethy Road ), ☏ +1 503 657-9336 . M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 10:30AM-5PM . As close to an official "end" as there is. The steps outside list many of the landmarks that you've passed along the way, giving a great sense of culmination to the journey. Regrettably, the museum is a bit of a dud, lacking the verve of its eastern counterparts. A souvenir shop sells commemorative patches for those proud few who have completed the trail and there's a sign out front that makes a good photo-op.

Congratulations! Award points for every member of your party who survived the trip and any provisions that you have left, including a working vehicle; triple points if you began as a farmer from Illinois . Alas, land claims are no longer free, but the beauty of the Willamette Valley is yours to enjoy.

Respect [ edit ]

This journey crosses native land .

The history of The Oregon Trail tends to be told through the eyes of early settlers on the wagon trains, an individualistic viewpoint focused on whether the voyager successfully reached the end of the trail. American cinema portrayed the Old West as a place of armed conflict between "cowboys and Indians", but these conflicts were rare in the early days. Between 1840-1860, fewer than 400 people on each side had been killed by conflict between colonists and natives while thousands annually died of disease, infighting, accident and misfortune.

The natives were trading partners and their assistance often invaluable.

Native relations soured when imported measles, smallpox, typhus and dysentery started causing the death of entire villages. Buffalo, once plentiful, declined in number and were disappearing from entire regions.

The Massacre Rocks incident of August 9th, 1862 killed ten settlers. In the retaliatory January 1863 42.1462 -111.914 16 Bear River Massacre , Col. Patrick Conner (stationed in Salt Lake City) and his California Volunteers marched north to the Bear River to kill 250 to 400 Shoshoni natives.

The educational video game is careful to label raids “riders attack” since they often came from “white bandits” and not Native Americans, but even its approach oversimplifies a complex history. The game includes no native playable characters and no explanation, from an indigenous perspective, of the impact on native communities as hundreds of thousands of migrants carved wagon roads, polluted water supplies along the trail and decimated wildlife through overhunting.

There is one lone native history museum on the trail:

Stay safe [ edit ]

You have dysentery.

Do you want to ford the river or caulk the wagon and float across?

Carry a spare tire and watch your fuel gauge. There are some long stretches between fuel stations.
Mobile phone reception is not guaranteed all the way through Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho.
A good road atlas should suffice for navigation. GPS is valuable if you veer off the route, Donner Party-style.
All but a few hundred miles of the original trails have been paved over by two-lane roads; some of the original U.S. Highway System, in turn, has been paved over or replaced by Interstate freeways. Non-motorized vehicles may need to take alternate routes at some busy points.
Take care when wandering through the sagebrush that you don't disturb any critters , such as snakes .

Go next [ edit ]

Portland is a half hour from Oregon City; enjoy some time outside of the car with some good food, drink & live music.
Champoeg, 6.6 mi (10.6 km) SE of Newberg on the Willamette River, was the original location of the provisional government that launched the 1843 land rush. The village was destroyed by a December 1861 flood, the site is now a state park.
Some travelers ended their journey in Astoria on the coast, a good place to relax.
Heading south, the lovely Crater Lake National Park is about 3½ hours away.
If you're inclined to embrace urban environs, continue north on I-5 N to Seattle (3 hours) and Vancouver (5½ hours).
If you're planning to head back east by car and still have some time to spare, it might be worth taking a northern route on I-90 E through Washington , Idaho, Montana , and South Dakota , all of which offer some interesting sights along the way.

Oregon National Historic Trail

Geographic Coordinates

The Ultimate Oregon Trail Road Trip Itinerary

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Road trips are a great opportunity to connect with your travel companion (besides listening to a killer playlist or gripping podcast series, it’s basically just tons of time for long convos), sightsee beautiful scenery and stop at some pretty cool places along the way. You’ve already done Route 66 and soaked in the coastal splendor of Highway 1, maybe even looped around the Road to Hana, but what about the Oregon Trail? Yes, the real-life route that more than 400,000 pioneers traveled from 1840 to 1880 and later inspired the classic computer game every ‘90s kid played. Following the 2,170-mile Pathway to the West that connects Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon , the Oregon Trail is one of the most interesting American road trips , full of history and fascinating pit stops, plus you can also spend the night in some great more modern destinations (because who doesn’t enjoy a little art, culture and cuisine between peeping preserved wagon ruts?)—and we’ve mapped it out. So all you have to do is fill your tank, buckle up and drive.

THE 16 BEST ROAD TRIPS IN THE USA TO TAKE IN 2021

oregon trail road trip independence missouri

1. Independence, Missouri

Getting There: 20 minutes from Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport
Where to Stay: Large Historic Remodeled Home , Modern Home in Woods , Woodstock Bed & Breakfast

Yes, Independence is the literal starting point of the Oregon Trail and for that, it’s the place the route—and your road trip—will inevitably kick-off, however, this Missouri city deserves more credit than just a historically significant dot on a map. It’s perhaps best known for the Truman Library & Museum, which has a permanent collection of information and relics about the Independence-born president. While the popular Frontier Trails Museum showcases pioneer-era relics and does wagon tours. Oh, and you’ll definitely want to chow down on some homemade American comfort food before hitting the road.

PITSTOP: Oregon Trail Nature Park (St. Mary's, Kansas)

oregon trail road trip blue rapids kansas

2. Blue Rapids, Kansas

Getting There: 2 hours 50 minutes from Independence, MO
Where to Stay: Maryann’s Guest House

It would be easy to overlook Blue Rapids, located approximately 12 miles south of Marysville, but then you’d be missing out on the chance to witness Alcove Springs. A popular stop for weary travelers after crossing the Big Blue River, it boasts unique rock formations—many of which still showcase names carved centuries ago—a waterfall and, as the name would suggest, natural springs. Another claim to fame that’s not Oregon Trail-related though still interesting is that Blue Rapids holds the title of the smallest town in the United States to have hosted a national league baseball game.

PITSTOP: Rock Creek Station State Historical Park (Fairbury, Nebraska)

oregon trail road trip ogallala nebraska

3. Ogallala, Nebraska

Getting There: 5 hours 15 minutes from Blue Rapids, KS
Where to Stay: Ogallala Family Home , Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Ogallala is a cool little city in Keith County with a population of 4,700 residents that you might recognize as a stop on the Pony Express and the transcontinental railroad. Consider spending the night in Ogallala, so you can wake up with fresh legs to hike California Hill just outside of nearby Brule. It was a particularly treacherous and essential part of the Oregon Trail journey. You can still see the deep ruts from wagon wheels even today. The panoramic views are pretty epic, too. Plus it’s a good excuse to get the blood flowing after all those hours in the car.

PITSTOP: Rock Creek Station (Fairbury, Nebraska)

4. Guernsey, Wyoming

Getting There: 3 hours 12 minutes from Ogallala, NE
Where to Stay: Camper , Bunkhouse Motel

A tiny town that’s big on historic and natural beauty, Guernsey showcases tons of Oregon Trail remnants. First up, head about three miles outside of town to Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site to see some of the best-preserved wagon marks anywhere. We’re never one to pass up an opportunity for some scenic hiking, especially after a lot of driving. Guernsey State Park is the perfect spot to stretch your legs and soak in the views of sandstone cliffs. If you’re keen on more outdoor recreation before getting back in the car, there’s boating, biking and fishing (it’s Wyoming, after all).

PITSTOP: Independence Rock (Casper, Wyoming)

5. Montpelier, Idaho

Getting There: 6 hours 45 minutes from Guernsey, WY
Where to Stay: Grandma’s House , Paris House , Country Cottage

Chances are Sun Valley and Sandpoint are higher up on your Idaho travel list than Montpelier but fans of Oregon Trail lore know about Big Hill, a fabled challenge that ranked as the longest, steepest climb on the entire route. And the descent was even more difficult. Needless to say, Big Hill is a big deal. Another old-timey attraction worth checking out? The Bank of Montpelier, which was established in 1891, was robbed by Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch Gang in August 1896. It’s the only financial institution the infamous outlaws hit that’s still standing.

PITSTOP: Fort Hall Replica (Pocatello, Idaho)

6. Boise, Idaho

Getting There: 4 hours 45 minutes from Montpelier, ID
Where to Stay: Newly Renovated Bungalow , Modern Farmhouse , Home2 Suites by Hilton

Boise is a lively city that will provide a fun change of pace in contrast to some of the smaller towns on your route thus far. The capital of Idaho has many exciting attractions such as the Boise Art Museum, where contemporary works adorn the walls of an Art Deco building and outdoor sculptures make their presence known in the garden. The Boise River Greenbelt, a series of trails and parks along the water, is another huge selling point and a lovely way to spend the afternoon. To up the ante on outdoor adventure, visit Boise National Forest.

PITSTOP: Philip Foster Farm National Historic Site On The Barlow Road/Oregon Trail (Eagle Creek, Oregon)

oregon trail road trip oregon city oregon

7. Oregon City, Oregon

Getting There: 6 hours 45 minutes from Boise, ID
Where to Stay: Stonehouse , Floating Bungalow , Happy Rock Inn

The official end to the Oregon Trail, Oregon City obviously deserves a visit for historical purposes but it’s also a great place with many modern charms, too. On the heritage side of things, costumed guides take visitors through interactive exhibits that better reveal what life was like in the mid-1800s at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center . Don’t miss the Museum of the Oregon Territory either. Oregon City is also home to one of the great American Main Streets. A walk along this revitalized thoroughfare reveals why. It’s lined with an enticing array of shops, cafes, restaurants and breweries.

PITSTOP: Willamette Falls (West Linn, Oregon)

oregon trail road trip willamette valley oregon

8. Willamette Valley, Oregon

Getting There: 50 minutes from Oregon City, OR
Where to Stay: Atticus Hotel , Downtown Cottage , Half-Pint Farmhouse

Many settlers continued past Oregon City to Willamette Valley—and you should, too. Sure, it’s a region rather than a singular stop, however, it’d be pretty incomplete for us to spotlight a cute place like McMinnville without mentioning Carlton, just a few minutes down the road. Surrounding the quaint towns are sprawling vineyards that grow some of the best Pinot noir in the country. It’s pretty fortuitous that Willamette Valley caps off the trip because you’re not going to be driving anywhere after wine tasting.

7 GENIUS GROUP TRAVEL HACKS FOR YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP

Freelance PureWow Editor

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16 Iconic Landmarks on the Oregon Trail

By Molly Jacobson Last updated October 3, 2023

The many forts, rocks, springs and other landmarks along the Oregon Trail kept settlers from losing not just their direction, but their hope as well.

These days, most people don’t pack up and move unless they have a job waiting for them. But for half a million overland emigrants in 19 th century America, that wasn’t the case. Not only were there no future jobs secured, there were no turnkey two-bedroom apartments either.

When travelers gazed across 2,000 miles of bleak prairie ahead, there was nothing ahead to light their way and give them hope – nothing but the chance to start fresh and the next landmark on the trail.

With such little waiting for them, Oregon Trail and California Trail travelers depended on these landmarks: without them, there was no sign of progress toward their dreams.

The Beginning of the Oregon Trail

When they embarked on the long trip west, almost everyone kicked off their journey at or near Independence, Missouri . From there, though, the trail widened. Travelers could be nearly parallel and have no knowledge of each other.

Most people think of the Oregon Trail as a simple worn two-track across the plains, but as historian Aubrey L. Hanes says, it was actually more of a “travel corridor.” In many places the Oregon Trail could be more than a mile wide.

Nevertheless, everyone’s journey was marked by several landmarks, the importance of which cannot be overstated. The monotony of daily life on the trail was oppressive, but every time they spotted a landmark, it was a sign that they were making progress, and that they weren’t lost.

Related read : Daily Life on the Oregon Trail

Landmarks on the Oregon Trail

1. fort kearny.

After a short time on the trail, emigrants rolled into Fort Kearny . Built in 1848, this humble cluster of adobe buildings gave them the opportunity to restock forgotten or used supplies, re-shoe their animals, and pass along letters for the postman.

2. Ash Hollow Complex

Ash Hollow was a favorite campsite, offering plenty of wood, clean water, and ample grazing for their animals. But it came with a steep price – travelers had to drive their wagons 300 feet down the nearly vertical Windlass Hill.

More than a few parties lost oxen and wagons to the perilous 25-degree slope. Many tried to let their wagons down more gently by chaining the wheels or dragging a small tree behind them for resistance.

Here we were obliged, from the steepness of the road, to let the wagons down by ropes…” Howard Stansbury, July 3, 1852

3. Courthouse and Jail Rocks

This large butte, which emigrants thought resembled the courthouses back East, along with the smaller rock beside it, were the first of several remarkable rock formations on the trail.

Located near present-day Bridgeport, Nebraska, these hulking pillars still mark the way for travelers on State Route 88.

Related read : 7 Tantalizing Stories of Lost Treasure in Oregon

4. Chimney Rock

Formed from loose clay and volcanic ash, this sky-piercing spire was one of the most noted landmarks in travelers’ diaries. Emigrants could see Chimney Rock on the horizon for days before they reached it. Originally 425-feet tall, it’s rumored that some soldiers used it for target practice, shaving at least 30 feet off the top with a cannonball.

No conception can be formed of the magnitude of this grand work of nature until you stand at its base and look up. If a man does not feel like an insect then I don’t know when he should.” Elisha Perkins, June 27, 1849

5. Scotts Bluff

The next landmark travelers looked for was Scotts Bluff , a large rock plateau along the North Platte River. Named for fur trader Hiram Scott, whose skeleton was found at its base in the 1820s, the bluff was one of the most commonly mentioned in emigrant journals.

Before 1851, the only way past Scotts Bluff was by way of Robidoux Pass , several miles out of the way. In 1851, the army improved the route by creating Mitchell Pass.

6. Fort Laramie

Another fur trading post turned military outpost, Fort Laramie was located at the edge of today’s Wyoming. Originally built by trader William Sublette in 1834, the fort cycled through many names. First, it was Fort William.

Then, when the American Fur Company bought it, they spruced it up and renamed it Fort John. The name didn’t stick, however, and the fort became known as Fort Laramie, after French-Canadian trapper Jacques LaRames.

Overland emigrants had yet another name for Fort Laramie: they jokingly referred to it as “Camp Sacrifice” in honor of all the abandoned furniture and supplies littering the trail nearby. As their Oxen wore out, travelers were forced to lighten their loads, tossing everything from books to bureaus out the backs of their wagons.

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey

“The narrative has a popular style flow and is easily read. There is a lot of information about the Oregon Trail. Personally, I found it very instructional.” – Frank Donnelly, Amazon review

Fort Laramie was another important restocking point for travelers, who were able to freshen up their supplies, check in with a blacksmith, and repair their wagons. Such demand had an explosive effect on prices, however – emigrants could expect to pay 20 times what they would have back East.

This fort is of adobe, enclosed with a high wall of the same. The entrance is a hole in the wall just large enough for a person to crawl through. The impression you have on entering is that you are in a small town. Men were engaged in all kinds of business from blacksmith up. We stayed here some time looking at everything that was to be seen and enjoying it to the fullest extent after our long tramp. We camped one mile from the fort, where we remained a few days to wash and lighten up.” Sallie Hester, June 19, 1849

When they left Fort Laramie, travelers set out across Wyoming’s vast, dry prairie. Many toted along as much fresh water as they could carry; they would find nothing but poisoned alkali water for miles, until they reached the fresh, cool water of the aptly named Sweetwater River.

7. Independence Rock

Next on their journey, emigrants came to yet another hulking rock formation. Independence Rock , also known as the “Great Desert Register,” sprang up 128 feet high and stretched a mile long. More than 5,000 emigrants scratched their names on its surface or smeared their signatures in wagon grease along the side.

Reached Independence Rock; at a distance looks like a huge whale. It is being painted and marked every way, all over, with names, dates, initials, &c – so that it was with difficulty I could find a place to inscribe it.” J. Goldsborough Bruff, July 26, 1849

Nobody really knows why it’s called Independence Rock, but experts have a few theories. Maybe it’s because it stands alone, independent from other formations. Or perhaps it’s because early trappers spent their 4 th of July holidays at the rock, or because overland emigrants tried to reach the rock by Independence Day to avoid snow in the mountains they would later cross.

Maybe the rock represents the independence they sought out west, the freedom gained by starting over.

Regardless of where it got its name, Independence Rock remains one of America’s most significant landmarks – a symbol of courage and exploration. Wyoming State Parks maintains a visiting site on State Route 220 near Alcova, Wyoming.

8. Devil’s Gate

A few miles southwest of Independence Rock, travelers reached Devil’s Gate , a formidable rock canyon, 370 feet high. The narrow crevice made way for the Sweetwater River, but not much else.

Travelers had to go around the canyon, but not before scribbling their names (again) on its granite walls.

9. South Pass

This grassy mountain passage was the most underrated landmark along the trail. It signified the journey’s halfway mark, as well as the highest point. Compared to some of the steeper treks they had made, like at Windlass Hill, the South Pass was downright gentle.

Many didn’t even notice that they weren’t on flat land, but almost everyone took a moment to acknowledge that if it weren’t for the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains, there would likely be no westward migration. It was thanks to this humble opening in the Rockies that pioneers could chase their futures towards the Pacific.

Up a very gentle ascent to the SOUTH PASS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, or the dividing ridge separating the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific. The ascent to the pass is so gradual, that but for our geographical knowledge; we should not have been conscious that we had ascended to, and were standing upon the summit of the Rocky Mountains – the backbone – of the North American Continent.” Edwin Bryant, July 12, 1846

Related read : 9 Reasons Why Fort Bridger was the Worst Fort on the Oregon Trail

10. Fort Bridger

After the South Pass, most travelers continued southwest on the main trail past Fort Bridger . In 1843, Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez built the rough little fort to trade with Indians and sell supplies to overland emigrants.

Although it was a much-looked-forward-to landmark along the trail, it didn’t have much to offer the weary travelers. Fort Bridger was really just a couple of wooden shacks – nothing like the comparatively metropolitan Fort Laramie.

It was near Fort Bridger that the Mormon Trail branched off toward the Great Salt Lake. Some travelers coming out of the South Pass chose to take Sublette’s Cutoff instead, bypassing Fort Bridger. The notorious shortcut saved 75 miles but cut through a perilous desert. Many of its travelers lost animals, wagons, and loved ones in the parched prairie.

Related read : 14 Facts About the Mormon Migration, A Classic Old West Exodus

11. Soda Springs

Near where Sublette’s Cutoff and the main trail reunited, travelers came upon Soda Springs in the Bear River Valley. Bubbling springs and geysers spouted all over in a landscape marred with craters and mineral formations. Emigrants tasted the carbonated water, some even adding flavorings. A few claimed that the waters were intoxicating, like beer.

Usually somewhere near Soda Springs, travelers parted ways – some to Oregon, some to California, and some to another adventure altogether.

Passed Soda Springs. Two miles further on are the Steamboat Springs. They puff and blow and throw the water high in the air. The springs are in the midst of a grove of trees, a beautiful and romantic spot.” Sallie Hester, July 29, 1849

12. Fort Hall and The Gate of Death

From Soda Springs, settlers traveled on to Fort Hall near the Snake River. Originally built as a fur trading post by Nathaniel Wyeth in 1834, the fort became yet another pantry-bolstering stop on the overland trail.

Fort Hall was another popular “parting of the ways” point. After traveling hundreds of miles together, friends said good-bye and good luck to those headed another direction.

After leaving Fort Hall, the Willamette Valley-bound travelers followed the winding snake river through the Gate of Death, a narrow rock canyon feared for its vulnerability to ambush.

13. Three Island Crossing

Three Island Crossing Oregon National Historic Trail

In Idaho, three gravel banks interrupt the snake river, providing the chance for overland emigrants to leap-frog across the dangerous river if the water wasn’t too high.

Even when the Snake was at its lowest, fording the river at Three Island Crossing was treacherous, and many didn’t survive. About half of all travelers decided not to risk it, opting instead for the longer dry rocky route along the south bank.

In 1869, Gus Glenn installed a ferry a couple miles upstream, making river hopscotch unnecessary.

14. Fort Boise

Fort Boise was established as a Hudson’s Bay Company outpost in 1834 by Thomas McKay. Located on the border of present-day Oregon, the fort boosted trade and reminded travelers: “You’re getting closer.”

15. The Dalles

With roughly only 100 miles left in their journey to Oregon country, the emigrants faced one of the most daunting tasks yet: crossing the Columbia River at the Dalles rapids . Travelers piled their wobbly wagons onto a rickety raft and rode it into whitewater.

In 1843, N.M. Bogart wrote, “When trying to pass some of the Cascades their frail craft would get caught in one of the many whirlpools, the water dashing over them, and drenching them through and through.”

Many emigrants capsized in the Columbia and lost everything, after painstakingly packing it across the plains for 2,000 miles. But even those were the lucky ones – some had persevered through all the previous perils of the overland journey, only to perish at the Dalles.

Fortunately, by 1846, Samuel Barlow had cleared an alternate route. For a precious five dollars per wagon, settlers could avoid the rapids altogether. Most chose to travel on Barlow’s toll road.

16. Fort Vancouver and Oregon City

For most Oregon Trail travelers, Fort Vancouver was the end of the line. Perched on the north bank of the Columbia River, Fort Vancouver was a large British outpost as well as the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Until John McLoughlin set up his Oregon City General Store in 1846, settlers stopped at Fort Vancouver for supplies before heading out to their homestead, their own pot of gold at the end of a colorful and harrowing journey.

California Trail Landmarks

After the “parting of the ways,” travelers on the California Trail passed a few landmarks as well before arriving at their destination. California settlers beheld the Humboldt River, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Lake Tahoe, finally arriving at Sutter’s Fort near present-day Sacramento.

The Journey’s End

Through these landmarks, the land guided about 500,000 emigrants west. But the travelers made their marks on the land as well, leaving behind a trail of notes, warnings, ox skulls, shallow graves, and the inevitable trash that accompanies a mass exodus.

These days, much of the West is taken over by skyscrapers, or at the very least, neatly plowed fields. But history fans with wandering feet can still visit most of the original Oregon Trail landmarks and pay homage to old milestones.

If it weren’t for those landmarks, travelers might still be aimlessly wandering the Great American Desert and sending their luggage west the long way around Cape Horn.

Explore the West

Westward Ho: Daily Life on the Oregon Trail
Prairie Pioneers: True & Inspiring Oregon Trail Stories
Hell on Wheels History: Rowdy Railroad Towns Across the Plains
Why Did People Move West in the 1800s?
Manifest Destiny: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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The Oregon Trail

Press Keyboard right side: Alt+Enter keys to switch to full screen game play, and Alt+Enter keys to return.

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How to play The Oregon Trail

Press Enter Key to start or stop walking Use Arrow keys to point the rifle (novice hunters) Press Space bar to fire the rifle. Control-A also allows you to erase messages (epitaphs) written on the tombstones for "emigrants" who died along the trail.

The Oregon Trail Description

Choose a persona and jump right into exploring the Oregon Trail on Classic Reload! First released to the masses in 1974 by MECC, The Oregon Trail stands out as the most important educational game of all time, holding a worthy spot in the Video Game Hall of Fame. You will need to ration food, hunt, trade, and ford rivers while prioritizing your party’s survival. The character you pick will determine the difficulty level of the game since the banker can afford food and supplies for most of the trip, while the carpenter has a smaller budget, and the farmer must rely mostly on skills to maneuver the trial. The game ends when your party is eliminated or when you reach Oregon. Your character choice also influences the points you earn when the game ends. Since the game is easy for the banker, no point multipliers are applied. Carpenters get a 2x point multiplier, while farmers get a 3x point multiplier. The random challenges in the game can change the entire course of the game for a player. Therefore, new players must try beating the game as a banker before trying it at other difficulty levels. Learn about the difficult life of pioneers in the 19th century by playing The Oregon Trail. Good luck!

The Oregon Trail walkthrough

The Oregon Trail - additional information

Oregon Trail: A Pioneering Adventure in Gaming

Oregon Trail stands as a monument in the landscape of educational video games, merging historical learning with engaging gameplay. Initially created in the 1970s, it has educated and entertained generations, allowing players to experience the trials and tribulations of 19th-century pioneers on their journey westward across North America. This article delves into the rich history, gameplay mechanics, and enduring legacy of Oregon Trail, offering insights into why it remains a beloved classic.

The Historical Journey Behind Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail was developed with the intention of teaching schoolchildren about the life of pioneers during the 1840s to 1860s, a period marked by mass migration along the Oregon Trail. The game's educational foundation is solid, rooted in historical events and challenges faced by travelers. Players must navigate their party through harsh conditions, manage resources, and make critical decisions, mirroring the real-life decisions of the pioneers.

Gameplay Mechanics: A Test of Strategy and Survival

At the heart of Oregon Trail's gameplay is resource management and decision-making. Players start by choosing their profession, which affects their starting resources, and then embark on the journey from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon's Willamette Valley. Along the way, they hunt for food, manage health conditions, cross rivers, and face unexpected events, such as wagon breakdowns and disease outbreaks. The game's unpredictable nature and the need for strategic planning make each playthrough a unique challenge.

The Cultural Impact of Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail's influence extends beyond the classroom, embedding itself in popular culture. Its references in television, literature, and internet memes attest to its widespread recognition and nostalgic value. The game not only introduced many to the concept of educational gaming but also sparked a lifelong interest in history for countless individuals. Its legacy is evident in the fond memories shared by those who navigated the perilous journey to Oregon City.

Educational Value and Modern Relevance

Despite its age, Oregon Trail remains an effective educational tool, offering insights into American history, geography, and the pioneer spirit. Its ability to blend learning with fun is a testament to the potential of video games as a medium for education. Modern iterations and remakes continue to introduce the game to new generations, ensuring its lessons and experiences are not forgotten.

Exploring Similar Games for History Enthusiasts

For those captivated by the blend of history and gameplay in Oregon Trail, there are several similar games worth exploring:

Carmen Sandiego Series: Offers a globe-trotting adventure that educates players on geography and history. SimCity : While not historical, it teaches about urban planning and management. Civilization : Players can guide a nation through history, making decisions that influence its development. Age of Empires Series: Focuses on historical empires and military strategy, offering a hands-on lesson in ancient and medieval history.

The Enduring Legacy of Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail's journey from a simple educational game to a cultural icon is a remarkable story. It proves that video games can be powerful teaching tools, offering both fun and learning in equal measure. As we look back on the trail blazed by this pioneering game, we're reminded of the countless virtual wagons that set off, seeking the promise of the Oregon territory. For many, Oregon Trail was more than just a game; it was an unforgettable adventure through history, teaching valuable lessons about perseverance, decision-making, and the indomitable human spirit.

As Oregon Trail continues to be celebrated and remade for new audiences, its legacy as a cornerstone of educational gaming is secure. Its blend of historical accuracy, engaging gameplay, and educational value makes it a timeless classic, cherished by gamers and historians alike. Whether you're a veteran trailblazer or a curious newcomer, Oregon Trail offers an adventure that is as educational as it is thrilling, proving that sometimes, looking back is the best way to move forward.

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Oregon Trail

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In 2018, the pioneer spirit was alive in Oregon for the 175th commemoration of the Historic Oregon Trail. This famous wagon route, spanning 2,170 miles (3,490 km), was the largest migration in American history. Join us as we rediscover Oregon from the perspective of those brave pioneers — while making your own Oregon Trail story along the way.

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Trump Visits a Construction Site in Manhattan Before His Trial Resumes

The early morning campaign stop exemplifies the balancing act required for a candidate who is also a criminal defendant.

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Former President Donald J. Trump, center, in a crowd. People are reaching at him. Some are holding or wearing red hats.

By Michael Gold

April 25, 2024

Hours before he was set to return to the courthouse for his criminal trial in Manhattan, former President Donald J. Trump started Thursday morning by visiting a construction site in a campaign stop that exemplified the balancing act required for a candidate who is also a criminal defendant.

In the shadow of what will eventually be the 70-story headquarters of one of the nation’s biggest banks, Mr. Trump shook hands with union workers in a visit meant to highlight his support from working-class voters and draw attention to his criticism of President Biden’s economic policies.

His warm reception — a cheering crowd of roughly 100 people gathered behind him, chanting “we want Trump” — marked a stark contrast from the sober environment of the courthouse where Mr. Trump has spent most weekdays since his trial began last week, and where his comments have largely been limited to addressing reporters in the hallway during breaks.

Mr. Trump has not held a rally since just before the trial began, in part because a planned event in North Carolina last weekend was canceled because of weather. But his visit to the construction site typifies how his campaign is using retail stops in New York, a left-leaning state not expected to be in play in November, to help broadcast his national message.

“I have a lot of support here,” Mr. Trump said, as roughly two dozen workers clambered up scaffolding and equipment to catch a glimpse of him. Among those in the crowd were members of the Teamsters union, whose endorsement Mr. Trump has been courting.

The trip to the construction site kicks off what will be a significant day in Mr. Trump’s legal battles. In Manhattan, where Mr. Trump is accused of falsifying business records, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, is expected to return to the stand and detail the hush-money payment at the center of his case. Asked by reporters, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Pecker had been “very nice” and called him a “nice guy.”

In Washington, the Supreme Court will consider Mr. Trump’s argument that he is immune from prosecution on federal charges that he plotted to subvert the 2020 election. Mr. Trump, who will likely be in the Manhattan courtroom during the oral arguments before the Supreme Court, repeated an argument he has been making for months that “a president has to have immunity, otherwise you just have a ceremonial president.”

Mr. Trump’s appeal to working-class voters was key to his victory in 2016, and as he tries to return to the White House, he has been eager to win the support of rank-and-file union members and to drive a wedge between them and labor leaders who have long favored Democrats.

In January, Mr. Trump met with the Teamsters union’s executive board and said he believed he had a “good shot” at securing the influential union’s endorsement. The union endorsed Mr. Biden in 2020, and its leaders met with the president last month.

Mr. Biden has for years touted his allegiance to unions. On Wednesday he received the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, an umbrella group whose leaders pointed to Mr. Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure package.

Jason Miller, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said that Thursday’s visit had been “on the books for some time” and was part of the campaign’s larger strategy to contend with the scheduling challenges posed by the Manhattan trial.

“Since the Biden Trials are an attempt to keep us off the campaign trail, we’ll bring the campaign trail to us,” he said. Mr. Trump has said without citing evidence that the charges are part of an “election interference” scheme orchestrated by Mr. Biden.

Michael Gold is a political correspondent for The Times covering the campaigns of Donald J. Trump and other candidates in the 2024 presidential elections. More about Michael Gold

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Prosecutors accused Donald Trump of violating a gag order four additional times , saying that he continues to defy the judge’s directions not to attack witnesses , prosecutors and jurors in his hush-money trial.

Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan is off to an ominous start for the former president, and it might not get any easier in the days ahead. Here’s why.

The National Enquirer was more than a friendly media outlet for Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. It was a powerful, national political weapon that was thrust into the service of a single candidate , in violation of campaign finance law.

Oregon kidnapping suspect arrested after attack was caught on doorbell camera

A kidnapping suspect in Oregon has been arrested after doorbell camera video captured him grabbing a woman and hauling her to a car.

The Hillsboro Police Department received a report early Monday morning of a kidnapping captured on a local’s doorbell camera.

The footage showed a woman “crying for help” before she was “picked up and carried away” by a man at around 10:45 p.m. Sunday at a residence in the area of Southeast 32nd Ave and East Main Street in Hillsboro, police said.

The woman is heard screaming “Please help me! Please help me!” as she was picked up by the man, according to video obtained by NBC affiliate KGW of Portland.

Police said they appeared to have left in a white pickup.

Investigators shared stills from that video with the public, asking for help identifying the suspect and the victim.

The woman who lived at the home that captured the video told KGW she didn’t recognize either the man or the woman in the video.

“She looked scared,” the woman said. “In her voice, you could tell she was frantic, and she needed help, and the way she grabbed onto the door in the video when you see it, that is like, not normal.”

By early Tuesday, the suspect and victim were both identified and found, and the suspect was charged with kidnapping.

“The suspect was arrested and the victim is safe,” police said, without identifying them.

“The suspect and victim knew each other and this was not a random attack,” police said.

No further details were shared but officials said, “there is no danger to the public.”

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Oregon quarterback Bo Nix leaps into the end zone for a touchdown as the No. 9 Oregon Ducks host

Bo Nix: Denver Broncos 'Put Their Trust And Belief In Me'

Former Oregon football quarterback Bo Nix says he is "thrilled" to play for Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Author: Bri Amaranthus

In this story:

The Denver Broncos selected former Oregon Duck quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12-overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

”I appreciate it so much," Nix said moments after being drafted in an i nterview with KOA 94.1 FM in Denver. "The first thing I thought of was the organization; they put their trust and belief in me. I know it's not a small task that they took me at that position."

"They could have taken a lot of guys, but I'm thrilled to be a part of this organization, thrilled to play for these coaches and for this locker room. I can't wait to get there and get started. I'm just really excited for the opportunity and I just can't believe it's here."

It's the first time ever Broncos coach Sean Payton drafted a quarterback in the first two rounds. The Russell Willson era in the Mile High City is over and the Bo Nix Era is just beginning.

The former Oregon Duck did not attend the NFL Draft in Detroit, opting to watch from Alabama with family. Oregon football coach Dan Lanning traveled to Alabama to be with Nix and his family during the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Broncos quarterback room has become significantly deeper and more competitive. Nix will now compete with Jarrett Stidham, Ben DiNucci, and the recently acquired Zach Wilson in Denver's quarterback room.

Nix is the sixth quarterback selected, which ties the NFL record for most quarterbacks picked in the first round. The 1983 NFL Draft, often considered the greatest quarterback class ever, also had six quarterbacks drafted.

The Heisman Trophy finalist is the most experienced quarterback prospect in the 2024 draft. His 61 career starts broke the NCAA record for most all-time by a FBS quarterback. The 23-year-old also broke the NCAA single-season record for completion percentage in 2023 at 77.45, completing a whopping 364 of 470 passes.

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Donald Trump traveling to Wisconsin for first off-day rally from New York hush money trial

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Wisconsin next week in what is expected to be his first rally since his criminal trial began in New York this month.

Trump is scheduled to appear in Waukesha on Wednesday and plans to deliver remarks about 2 p.m. at the Waukesha County Expo Center, where he'll "contrast the peace, prosperity and security of his first term with Joe Biden’s failed presidency," his campaign said.

The planned rally is the first for Trump since the start of his hush money trial in Manhattan. The former president has spent most of the past two weeks in court, largely unable to campaign. He's accused of falsifying business records during his 2016 campaign to conceal an affair.

He previously scheduled a rally in North Carolina this past weekend, but it was canceled due to stormy weather. His Wisconsin visit will fall on a Wednesday — the one day a week he is typically not required to be in court.

Trump plans to hold a rally in Freeland, Mich., later in the day.

The former president held his first Wisconsin rally of the election cycle earlier this month, when he stopped in Green Bay . There, he attacked President Joe Biden over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border — a key issue to his campaign.

“We’re going to end up with the largest deportation in America," Trump told the crowd in Green Bay of his plans if reelected. "I’m here to declare Biden’s border bloodbath … ends the day I take office. I will end the carnage."

On Wednesday, Trump is expected to again make the southern border a focal point. His campaign this week said Biden's border policies have "caused a crisis, with illegal immigrants and criminals funneling deadly drugs into Wisconsin communities."

Trump's visit to Wisconsin comes as President Joe Biden and his campaign have flooded the state over the last five months. Biden and his surrogates have made eight stops in the swing state since the start of the year. Biden was in Madison April 8 to unveiled a new student loan debt forgiveness plan.

Biden's campaign on Wednesday attacked Trump as having "nothing to offer but resentment and division."

“After spending the last few weeks dozing off and bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump is visiting Waukesha next week in a desperate bid to do damage control on his record of ripping away women’s freedoms and encouraging thousands of rioters to try to violently overturn an election," the Biden campaign said in a statement.

The recent visits will not be the last for either candidate.

Wisconsin is one of just a handful of states that will decide the next presidential contest, and Biden and Trump are locked in a tight rematch of 2020. A Marquette University Law Poll released last week showed Trump leading Biden 51%-49% among both registered voters and likely voters.

Still, as Biden continues to campaign across the country, Trump has been in a Manhattan courtroom. And his trial could take several weeks.

"I should be in Georgia now. I should be Florida now," Trump said ahead of one recent court appearance. "I should be a lot of different places right now campaigning, and I'm sitting here. And this will go on for a long time."

IMAGES

Explore The Oregon Trail
What Was It Really Like Pioneering The Oregon Trail?
Oregon Trail Road Trip: Your Guide to US 20 and Oregon Trail Map
The Oregon Trail
A Guide To The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: Where History and Fun Intersect

COMMENTS

The Oregon Trail Game Online
The Oregon Trail Game. It wouldn't make much sense to have a website like Visit Oregon and not have one of the most iconic Oregon video games ever made. If you grew up in Oregon during the 70's and 80's, you will remember The Oregon trail (1971 video game). Above is a free version you can play right here for as long as you like.
ORS 426.273
A copy of the conditions for trial visit shall be given to all of the individuals or entities listed in ORS 426.278 (Distribution of copies of conditions for outpatient commitment or trial visit). (4) Any trial visit granted under this section is subject to the provisions under ORS 426.275 (Effect of failure to adhere to condition of placement ...
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail has a rich historical background. It was initially created as a text-based game in 1971 and later published by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium ( MECC) in 1975. The game was re-imagined and released in its graphical form in 1985 for the Apple II. The year is 1848, and you'll assume the role of a wagon leader ...
The True Story of the Oregon Trail
Time your visit to a number of Oregon Trail-themed events, including cooking competitions (Cast Iron Chef), weekend encampments, living-history presentations and pioneer skill shows. A 2.5-mile walking trail loops through the area with stops at still-existing wagon-trail ruts in the dirt, the site of a former wagon encampment and a panorama ...
The Oregon Trail Game
Central Oregon; Oregon Coast; Willamette Valley; Southern Oregon; Oregon Coast Camping; Oregon Ghost Towns; Oregon Waterfalls; Oregon Trail Game; Book Your Stay. Hotels & Lodging; Featured Vacation Rentals; Search Vacation Rentals; Rv Rentals; State Park Camping; State Park Cabins & Yurts; Timeshares; Search Oregon Homes. Real Estate; Oregon ...
The Oregon Trail
Experience The Oregon Trail like never before, with 12 immersive journeys. Keep your party healthy and your wagon moving as you traverse unforgiving terrain. RESPECTFUL REPRESENTATION. In creating this new game in the beloved The Oregon Trail series, we were determined to better depict Native American perspectives.
Historic Sites & Oregon Trail
There are two great spots that I would suggest to see the Oregon Trail. One is Blue Mountain Crossing, just off I-84, about nine miles west of La Grande. It's a half-mile paved, easy accessible trail that follows some of the best preserved and most scenic traces of the Oregon Trails. Blue Mountain Crossing has discovery trails where you….
Oregon Trail: Length, Start, Deaths & Map
The Oregon Trail, a 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, was used by hundreds of thousands of pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west.
Explore The Oregon Trail
Less than an hour away, near Baker City, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is a fine gathering site for your family. The site provides you with a perspective and context to better understand the region's early days. The OTIC opened in 1993 and shows - through tours and exhibits - how the westward migration that began in the 1840s ...
The Oregon Trail Game Online
Do you remember playing The Oregon Trail growing up? Well, now you can play it again for free online here: https://www.visitoregon.com/the-oregon-trail-game-...
The Oregon Trail
Inducted Year: 2016. As the longest-published, most successful educational game of all time, The Oregon Trail has blazed a path for the use of video games in learning. Three student teachers, Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger, created The Oregon Trail in 1971 to help Minnesota schoolchildren learn American History.First programmed on a primitive teletype printer, the game ...
Save 33% on The Oregon Trail on Steam
Take on 15 playable Journeys. Experience 7 Quests inspired by historical events. Monitor your party members' health, morale, stamina and hygiene. Manage your inventory to squeeze everything you can into the wagon. Maintain your wagon to prevent breakdowns and inventory loss from spoiling or spillage.
Oregon National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)
Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail in six states and serve as reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers.
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a 2,200 mi (3,500 km) National Historic Trail across the United States, traditionally beginning in Independence, Missouri and crossing the states of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho before ending near the Pacific coast in Oregon City, Oregon.. An estimated 400,000 settlers used the Oregon Trail or other Emigrant Trail branches to migrate west between the early 1830s and the ...
Games
The Ongoing Legacy of The Oregon Trail Games. The game series continued to evolve with Oregon Trail Deluxe in 1992, followed by Oregon Trail II in 1995, The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition in 1997, and subsequent 4th and 5th editions. As of 2011, The Oregon Trail series had sold over 65 million copies, cementing its place as an educational gaming classic.
Oregon National Historic Trail
The Oregon Trail continued to be used long after the building of the railroads across southern Idaho, even into the early 1900s. The total distance of the byway is 89 miles. Allow eight hours to complete the trip from Boise, including time to visit the Three Island Crossing State Park interpretive center and to explore the Oregon Trail at the ...
‎The Oregon Trail on the App Store
Fresh Features. • Take on 15 playable Journeys. • Experience 7 Quests inspired by historical events. • Monitor your party members' health, morale, stamina and hygiene. • Manage your inventory to squeeze everything you can into the wagon. • Maintain your wagon to prevent breakdowns and inventory loss from spoiling or spillage.
Your Ultimate Oregon Trail Road Trip Itinerary
The official end to the Oregon Trail, Oregon City obviously deserves a visit for historical purposes but it's also a great place with many modern charms, too. On the heritage side of things, costumed guides take visitors through interactive exhibits that better reveal what life was like in the mid-1800s at the End of the Oregon Trail ...
Plan Your Visit
Plan Your Visit. The Oregon National Historic Trail extends over 2,000 miles from the Missouri River to Oregon. There are museums, historic sites, churches, and original trail segments located all along the length of the trail to Oregon.
16 Iconic Landmarks on the Oregon Trail
16. Fort Vancouver and Oregon City. Source: Wikimedia Commons. For most Oregon Trail travelers, Fort Vancouver was the end of the line. Perched on the north bank of the Columbia River, Fort Vancouver was a large British outpost as well as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Oregon Trail
Choose a persona and jump right into exploring the Oregon Trail on Classic Reload! First released to the masses in 1974 by MECC, The Oregon Trail stands out as the most important educational game of all time, holding a worthy spot in the Video Game Hall of Fame. You will need to ration food, hunt, trade, and ford rivers while prioritizing your party's survival.
Oregon Trail
This famous wagon route, spanning 2,170 miles (3,490 km), was the largest migration in American history. Join us as we rediscover Oregon from the perspective of those brave pioneers — while making your own Oregon Trail story along the way. Gabi Duarte. [email protected]. Travel Oregon. In 2018, the pioneer spirit was alive in Oregon for ...
Visit Oregon
Dubbed as the state that is home to more trees than people, Oregon can be geographically divided into six areas of lowlands, plateaus, and mountains. Featuring over 5 million acres of trees, 361 State parks, the deepest lake in the US, and the picturesque Cascade Mountains - Oregon is the nature lovers destination. EXPLORE BY REGION.
Twisted truths and a fundraising boost: How Trump tried to control his
On the first day of trial, Trump's campaign raised $1.6 million in small-dollar donations, a campaign official told NBC News. Trump raised that much online on only three days in the first three ...
Trump Visits a Construction Site in Manhattan Before His Trial Resumes
Hours before he was set to return to the courthouse for his criminal trial in Manhattan, former President Donald J. Trump started Thursday morning by visiting a construction site in a campaign ...
'Total disbelief': Friends shocked by man setting himself on fire
You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com ...
Trump trial live updates: Ex-tabloid publisher David Pecker to face
Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, has testified about discussions with ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and payments to Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Oregon kidnapping suspect arrested after attack was caught on doorbell
The footage showed a woman "crying for help" before she was "picked up and carried away" by a man at around 10:45 p.m. Sunday at a residence in the area of Southeast 32nd Ave and East Main ...
Bo Nix: Denver Broncos 'Put Their Trust And Belief In Me'
The Denver Broncos selected former Oregon Duck quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12-overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. "I appreciate it so much," Nix said moments after being drafted in an ...
Trump coming to Wisconsin for off-day rally from hush money trial
The planned rally is the first for Trump since the start of his hush money trial in Manhattan. The former president has spent most of the past two weeks in court, largely unable to campaign.

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Oregon National Historic Trail

Geographic Coordinates

The Ultimate Oregon Trail Road Trip Itinerary

1. Independence, Missouri

2. Blue Rapids, Kansas

3. Ogallala, Nebraska

4. Guernsey, Wyoming

5. Montpelier, Idaho

6. Boise, Idaho

7. Oregon City, Oregon

8. Willamette Valley, Oregon

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16 Iconic Landmarks on the Oregon Trail

The Beginning of the Oregon Trail

Landmarks on the Oregon Trail

2. Ash Hollow Complex

3. Courthouse and Jail Rocks

4. Chimney Rock

5. Scotts Bluff

6. Fort Laramie

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey

7. Independence Rock

8. Devil’s Gate

9. South Pass

10. Fort Bridger

11. Soda Springs

12. Fort Hall and The Gate of Death

13. Three Island Crossing

14. Fort Boise

15. The Dalles

16. Fort Vancouver and Oregon City

California Trail Landmarks

The Journey’s End

Explore the West

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Daily Life on the Oregon Trail: What it Was Really Like

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