Table Of ContentPacific Crest Trail, California
MY PUBLIC LANDS
Junior Ranger
Find Your Path!
Discover America’s National Historic, Scenic, and Recreation Trails
Oregon
Trail,
Wyoming Iditarod Trail,
Alaska
Public Lands Belong to You!
What’s Inside
2 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a federal government
These are Your agency that cares for public lands. These lands are managed
Trails, America! for many different uses and belong to all Americans. BLM lands
provide energy resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
4 They provide access to outdoor recreation opportunities, like
Time Travel on hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. They provide habitat for
National Historic wildlife, food for grazing animals, and timber for people. The
Trails lands contain evidence of the past, such as dinosaur bones and
plant fossils. Archaeological sites on public
6 lands help us learn about people who lived
Visit Your here long ago. Each year, millions of people
Historic Trails explore the wide open spaces on their
public lands!
7
Food for
Trail Travelers
8
Adventure Awaits
on National
Scenic Trails
9
Tips for Terrific
Trail Photos
10
Fun for Everyone
on National BLM-managed lands
Recreation Trails (Small sites in eastern states
do not appear on a map of this scale.)
11
A-Mazing
Mountain Biking Become a BLM
Junior Ranger!
12
Packing Smart for The Junior Ranger program introduces
Your Trail Adventure young adventurers like you to the
lands and resources of the Bureau
of Land Management. We invite
you to join the adventure! Learn
more at blm.gov/education.
Find Your Path!
1
Explore 19
Historic Trails
Over 33,000 miles
connecting to America’s past!
Discover 11
Scenic Trails
More than 18,000 miles
of spectacular scenery!
Play on
Hundreds of
Recreation Trails
Over 26,000 miles
for fun and adventure!
These Are Your Trails,
In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson
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established for people of different S LA WYOMING N.J.
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ages, abilities, and interests. E
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Since 1968, many more trails have TRAIL NEBRA SK A ILLINOIS INDIANA VIWRGESINTIA C TRAIL PNOATTOIOMNAACL HSCEERNITIAC GTERAIL
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President MEXICO
Lyndon Johnson
examines a map GULF OF MEXICO N
of trails in 1968.
ALASKA
Think about it...
President Johnson said, “We can and should have an
abundance of trails for walking, cycling, and horseback riding #FindY o urWay
at trails50.org.
in and close to our cities.” What do you think?
GULF OF ALASKA
PACIFIC OCEAN
America!
National National Scenic Trails
scenic trails
pass through
areas that have
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NEVA DA UTAH NATIONAL SCE NIC TRAILSK ENTUCKY NATION A L SC ENI V IRGINIA
C A LPO IF A OC CRE NI A FI ANI C A RTRIZAOI NLAA RIZ ONAARIZONA NAT I ONAL SC E NIC TRAIL NOTICNEVIDI NL ATD E NA T IROTA I NCLAIN L ESCNEWC OMLEOXRIACDOO K ANTSEOAXKSALSAHOMA AMRLIKS OASUNOS I USA I R SAI N ANATC HEZM TRIACSE S NATIIOSN SAL I PSCPEN IIC TRAILA LTAEBNANFMLEOSARSIEDEA NAPAPATLIGASOCC ENH IEOA ANN RLIGC I ATFRL A OI L RC IASDORAOUTLIHNA CANBNFNROiuaaOsRrhttLTeii ooIaaHNnnnuaAad oAllO WfPF TaoCLirarLlEdkenA lsAdSitfy NeMSNs yStTaesenItmreCavmgiceement
MEXICO
GULF OF MEXICO N
ALASKA
National Historic Trails
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provide opportunities that were important
GULF OF ALASKA
PACIFIC OCEAN for fun and exploration in the history of the
in urban, rural, and remote areas. United States.
Time Travel on National
National historic trails closely follow historical travel routes. They represent important periods
in United States history, from early exploration and trade to westward expansion. Historic trails
celebrate the hundreds of thousands of emigrants who traveled to make their homes in the
west. They also remind us of the challenges and hardships of Native Americans. Many of
4 these trails were routes traveled by Native Americans for hundreds to thousands of years.
In the nation’s early years, trails and rivers were the primary connections between towns and
farms, cities, and settlements. As the nation grew in size, Americans looked westward for new
opportunities. First on foot and horseback and later in wagons, people took to the trails and
headed west.
The Emigrant Trails: Moving People Westward
ONWARD to OREGON GOING for GOLD Destination: GREAT
SALT LAKE
The trip across In 1848, gold was
the Great Plains discovered in For Mormons
and the Rocky California. Fortune in the Eastern
Mountains was seekers from all United States,
difficult. Among the first to over the world set out by land the 1840s were a difficult
set out for the new territory and sea for the new territory. time. In 1846, thousands
were fur trappers and traders. For those in the Eastern fled persecution in Nauvoo,
Most covered the 2,000 miles United States, the fastest and Illinois, and headed west. In
from the Missouri River to cheapest route was overland, Nebraska, they followed the
Oregon on foot. The following the Oregon Trail Oregon Trail along the Platte
possibility of land, wealth, before heading southwest on River. Near Fort Casper, in
and greater freedom inspired the California Trail. The route Wyoming, they crossed the
others to follow. In the crossed rugged mountains North Platte River before
1840s, thousands of families and harsh deserts. Winter climbing into the Rockies.
loaded their belongings into weather presented more perils After crossing the Continental
covered wagons. Joining and sometimes closed off Divide (at South Pass), the
other emigrants, they formed the main trail. Determined weary travelers began the
wagon trains for the long travelers took detours and long descent to their final
journey west on the shortcuts, creating many new destination—the Great Salt
Oregon Trail. paths. Still, all the branches Lake Valley. More than
of the California Trail ended in 70,000 people migrated to
the gold fields. Utah on the Mormon Trail.
Historic Trails
THE PONY EXPRESS TRAIL
After the California Gold Rush, thousands of newcomers from the east had settled
in the new states of California and Oregon, and they needed a way to communicate
with people back home. In April 1860, the Pony Express was established to fill that
5
need. A relay team of Pony Express riders could carry a letter from St. Joseph,
Missouri, to Sacramento, California, in a record 10 days, providing a key link in east-west
communication. Along the route, about every 10 miles, were stations where the riders could change
horses and exchange mail. A new rider would take over after about 100 miles. The job required
riders who were young, lightweight, and extremely tough. The Pony Express operated for less than
2 years, but the extreme challenges the riders faced led to legends that remain today.
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HI Explore more
ALA KAHAKAI
at trails50.org/
national-historic-trails.
END OF THE TRAILS
On October 24, 1861, the nation’s
transcontinental telegraph system
was completed. News and other messages could be sent
cross country almost instantaneously. The Pony Express was
no match for the speed of the telegraph. It went out of business
just 2 days later. In 1869, the transcontinental railroad opened,
providing a faster and safer way to carry mail and people across the
country. Before long, the overland trails had faded into history.
Visit Your Historic Trails
Thanks to the National Trails System Act, you can explore national
historic trails and visit historic sites, such as Pony Express stations,
forts, and gravesites. The BLM manages sections of 18 national
historic trails—more miles of historic trails than any other agency!
It also manages several interpretive centers where you can learn
more about the trails and their impact on our history.
6
National
Historic Trails
Interpretive Center, Casper,
Wyoming
Portions of the original Oregon, Mormon
Pioneer, California, and Pony Express Trails remain
today. They are evidence of the mass migration of
Americans to the west and the huge changes that
happened over a period of just 30 years. The National
California
Historic Trails Interpretive Center sits above the
Trail Interpretive
North Platte River, near the place where these trails
Center, Elko, Nevada
converge. Hands-on activities, interactive exhibits,
movies, and special events help tell the stories Not all of the travelers on the California
of the people who passed through on foot, in Trail crossed into California. Many
wagons, and on horseback so long ago. pioneers chose to settle in Nevada. At the
There is even a simulated bumpy California Trail Interpretive Center, visitors
wagon ride. learn about the lives of the pioneers and the
experiences of the Native Americans who
lived there. You can also take part in living
history events and special programs
for Junior Rangers. Every May, the
California Trail Days celebration
brings history to life.
National Historic
Oregon Trail Interpretive
Center, Baker City, Oregon
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
offers activities the whole family can enjoy. Living history
demonstrations, life-size displays, and movies tell about the
explorers, miners, pioneers, and settlers who found their way to
Oregon. The site includes the abandoned 500-acre Flagstaff Gold
Mine. You can see actual wagon ruts left more than 100 years ago.
Hiking trails lead to magnificent views of the mountains. Special events
throughout the year offer opportunities to meet reenactors portraying
pioneers, visit a simulated wagon encampment, or witness a cookoff.
Food for Trail Travelers
Explorers, trappers, and traders who traveled the trails
knew food sources might be scarce, especially in winter.
The ultimate travel food was “pemmican,” a mixture of
dried lean meat and grease invented by Native Americans.
Pemmican packed a lot of energy and could last for years.
7
Why not pack some pemmican
for your trail adventure?
MOCK PEMMICAN
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Opotri oonthael:r ½ d rcieudp fdrruieitd nuts or seeds
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airtight container.
For a more authentic
pemmican, add a little
coconut oil or nut butter.
Mix together with your
hands and mold into balls or
patties. Add spices such as
cinnamon, chili powder, or
hot pepper flakes to create
your signature pemmican.
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After skimming the Idaho border, it crosses Wyoming, R Wy Great
Colorado, and New Mexico. More than 3,100 miles T
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Most people explore the Continental Divide Trail a section N
at a time. There are great places for short day hikes and O
weekend camping. Some sections are open for mountain C
biking, horseback riding, and motorcycling. The Teton
Reservoir Recreation Site in Wyoming is a favorite for
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families. From the reservoir, you can hike 5 miles to the Natl
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