TheApplegate Trail was anemigrant trail through the present-dayU.S. states ofIdaho,Nevada,California, andOregon used in the mid-19th century by emigrants on theAmerican frontier. It was originally intended as a less dangerous alternative to theOregon Trail by which to reach theOregon Territory. Much of the route was coterminous with theCalifornia Trail.
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In 1843, part of the Applegate family ofMissouri headed west along theOregon Trail to theOregon Country.[1] Brothers Charles,Jesse, andLindsay led their families through many hardships along the trail, including the loss of two children on the journey down theColumbia River.[1] These experiences influenced the family to find an easier and safer way to theWillamette Valley.[1]
In 1846, theOregon Provisional Legislature allowed the Applegates and others to attempt to find a more southerly route to Oregon.[2] The group began the trek on June 25, 1846, with Jesse Applegate, Lindsay Applegate, David Goff, John Owen,B. F. Burch, W. Sportsman, Robert Smith, a Mr. Goodhue, J. Jones, B. Ausbuan, andLevi Scott starting the survey.[1][2] LeavingLa Creole, the party spent three and a half months surveying a route toFort Hall in present-day Idaho.[3] At that location, the Applegate Trail departed the main branch of the Oregon Trail.[3] On the return trip, the group brought approximately 150 immigrants along the new southern route, also known as theSouth Road,South Emigrant Trail or theScott-Applegate Trail.[3]
From Fort Hall, the route headed south following theHumboldt River before passing through theBlack Rock Desert in present-day Nevada.[4] The trail then enteredNorthern California and passedGoose andTule lakes.[1] After crossing theLost River, the route then crossed theKlamath Basin and theCascade Range intoSouthern Oregon.[3] The trail followed Keene Creek to theSiskiyou Mountains, thenBear Creek and theRogue River.[3] Heading north from there, the route crossed theUmpqua River before crossing theCalapooya Mountains into the southern Willamette Valley.[3]
Applegate-Lassen Trail | |
| Location | Rye Patch NW toCalifornia state line |
|---|---|
| Part of | Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001722 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1978 |
After the initial party traveled the trail, it continued to be used and improved over the next few decades.[3] In 1848, when news of theCalifornia Gold Rush reached the Willamette Valley, many settlers including Jesse and Lindsay Applegate left Oregon for the gold fields and used the trail to reach northern California.[1] On August 3, 1992, the Applegate Trail became aNational Historic Trail as part of theCalifornia National Historic Trail.[5] The Nevada section of the trail is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places as theApplegate-Lassen Trail.[6]
