Here are useful links related to western long distance trails and to the history, culture, geography, etc., surrounding them.

We are constantly adding to the list. If you would like to suggest additional links or you find one that is outdated or otherwise inappropriate, please contact your Utah Crossroads Webmaster.

Please note: Each of these links will open in a new window so you don't lose track of this page.

Oregon-California Trails Association

This is your primary resource and starting point for information on trails or OCTA. This extremely rich site is designed for both the casual and focused visitor. Go here often because the OCTA webmasters have so much information to share that in some areas of the site they provide a constantly changing smorgasbord of materials. If you are interested in trail publications and products check out the OCTA Store.

TRAILS

General

National Trails System Program

The National Park Service's National Trails Office is in Salt Lake City, Utah. The staff includes OCTA and Utah Crossroads Chapter members. Phone (801) 741-1012. The mailing address is National Trails System - SLC Office, 324 S. State Street, Suite 200, Box 30, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.

Hiking Trails

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

For those interested in building, biking and hiking a modern trail, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a 90 mile pedestrian and hiking trail being built along the eastern shoreline of Lake Bonneville which will eventually stretch from Brigham City to Nephi. If you find yourself getting some exercise along this route you might try infecting some of its other visitors with a little of your enthusiasm for the  old emigrant roads as well.

Mormon Trail

Heritage Gateway

This site is the official Kindergarten - 12th Grade Mormon Trail sesquicentennial celebration Web site sponsored by the Utah State Office of Education, the BYU-Public School Partnership and UtahLINK a service of the Utah Education Network. Far more than succeeding as an educational site for public school students, "this is the place" for anyone interested in the 150th anniversary Mormon Trail reenactment wagon train.

 

Mormon Trails Association

The association is an active organization sponsoring several events per year, usually including lectures and field trips.

 

Sons of the Utah Pioneers

"The mission of the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers is to honor the Pioneers, who entered the Utah Territory prior to May 10, 1869, by promoting educational, historical, and social activities that will preserve their history and artifacts and perpetuate their ideals."

Old Spanish Trail

 

Old Spanish Trail Association

As of 4/12/2001 the link to OSTA, the Old Spanish Trail Association, is not available. The link here has some information.

Pony Express Trail

Pony Express Home Station

This comprehensive Pony Express Express site belongs to Tom Crews of Walnut Creek, CA. If you're looking for the Pony Express on the internet, this is the place to be.

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail Association

Official website.

 

The Interactive Santa Fe Trail (SFT) Homepage

Well-done site by Nancy Sween covers history and modern-day interest in this historic trail through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, & New Mexico. Site is highly interactive and has a wealth of reference information available.

 

Santa Fe Trail Research Site

From the home page: "'The Wet/Dry Routes' was a section of the Santa Fe Road that ran from just northeast of Larned, Kansas, in the area of Ash Creek Crossing and Pawnee Rock, Kansas to Fort Dodge, Kansas and The Caches."

 

"Along the Dry Route there were very few places that water could be found, a few small creeks but nothing major."

This useful website is heavy on information and light on graphics. There are detailed auto tour pages and years of the chapter's quarterly newsletter, Traces. Excellent.

REFERENCE

On-line Books

Capt. Randolph B. Marcy's \The Prairie Traveler\

 

THE PRAIRIE TRAVELER. A HAND-BOOK FOR OVERLAND EXPEDITIONS. WITH MAPS, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND ITINERARIES OF THE PRINCIPAL ROUTES BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI AND THE PACIFIC. BY RANDOLPH B. MARCY, CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT 1859.

 

This internet-accessible 1859 book is a wonderful source of trails how-to information on every aspect of organization, supplies and travel for the pioneer-era emigrant as well as for the military on the overland trails. From the Kansas Collection website created by Lynn Nelson, Professor of History at the University of Kansas. "The Kansas Collection. Letting the voices of the past be heard . . . "

HISTORY

Utah

Utah Collections

"The Utah Collections Multimedia Encyclopedia is a continuing series of  CD-ROM volumes as well as an ever-expanding world wide web site whose  contributors include many institutions, organizations and agencies throughout  Utah. Utah Collections serves as a storehouse of multimedia items which  educators, professors and students can freely use in lesson plans, reports and  projects without fear of copyright infringement."

 

Utah History Home Page

This is the website for the Utah Historical Society.