OCTA/TRAILS WEST

Oregon/California Trails Association. The California/Nevada Chapter is one of the eleven chapters of the Oregon-California Trails Association, an organization dedicated to the preservation, appreciation and enjoyment of all the Trans-Mississippi migration trails to the West. These were the the trails that made the United States an ocean to ocean nation.

Trails West Inc.

The markers are welded together in the shape of a tee. The 18 inch top crossbar, about 4 feet above ground, has a plaque attached with an engraved inscription describing something significant or an event of that particular area. This inscription is usually a quotation from an emigrant diary pertaining to that specific site.

The average distance between the markers placed on the trail is 4 to 5 miles. The emigrant trains' daily average travel was 10 to 15 miles a day. Obviously there would be 2 to 4 markers placed on the trail for each day's travel of the wagon trains. Therefore, the deaths and grave sites are referenced as near as possible to the general area of the markers. Anyone interested in locating the site area of the graves can do so with the aid of the Trails West Driving Guide -EMIGRANT TRAILS WEST- published in 1984. It is out of print now but may be available in some libraries.

There are 47 Trails West markers installed on the Applegate Trail. They are serialized alphanumerically. There are 62 markers on the Lassen Trail, L-1 through 62. The plate numbering system progresses from east to west along the trail. Some markers, (i.e. A-15A & 15B), were installed at a later time after the main trail had been marked.

Trails West Inc. is in the process of publishing another driving guide to theApplegate and Lassen trails. Included in it will be explicit diving instructions and maps showing where all of the markers are located on the trail. When it becomes available, locating the markers, the trail, and the grave sites will be easily accomplished.

California /Nevada Chapter - OCTA