Historic Site and Historical Park · NPS · ID, KS, MO, NE, OR, WA, WY
Oregon National Historic Trail
Photo: NPS photo, Guernsey Ruts, Wyoming
Alerts and conditions
Overview
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.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Plan your visit
Hours
Oregon National Historic Trail: The Oregon National Historic Trail is not a clearly marked hiking trail. Instead it is a corridor that passes through communities, urban areas, public lands and Wilderness. The route travels across a variety of land ownerships and management, including private land. Each location varies as to the hours of operation and access. Please contact trail sites before your visit for more information.
Getting there
More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail in six states- reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers.
Visitor centers
Weather
Due to the length of the Oregon National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov
Phone: N/A
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos




Pair it with
- Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 14 miles
- Pony Express National Historic Trail NPS · 25 miles
- California National Historic Trail NPS · 55 miles
- Fossil Butte National Monument NPS · 58 miles
- Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area USFS · 63 miles
- Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 70 miles