Traveling The Oregon Trail

As you can probably imagine, pioneers more than 100 years ago didn’t have it easy, and the Oregon National Historic Trail is a piece of history and an homage to what so many had to go through to find a better life. A small trail this is not. It’s over 2,000 miles and runs through six states: Wyoming, Idaho, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and last but not least, Oregon. Pioneers traveled by covered wagon that were being pulled by oxen, horses, or mule. Back then it would have taken around 4 to 6 months to complete the journey. The good news it that you can now travel much more comfortably and in much less time if you want to pay a visit to The Oregon National Historic Trail. Check out the following information should you decide you want to make the journey.

The Beginning to the End
So we’ve already talked about the states that the Oregon National Historic Trail goes through, but where exactly does it start and finish? If you want to go from the very beginning, you’ll want to make your way over to Independence, Missouri which was founded in 1827. It’s where many pioneers loaded up with supplies for the long journey. As far as the stopping point, you can head over to Oregon City, Oregon which today has a population of over 34,000.

Private Land
Not all of the 2,000+ miles of the Oregon National Historic Trail is on public land. Quite a bit is on private land which means you’re either going to have to forego those areas or you can take a chance and try to get permission from the landowners. As much as you may want to travel the entire trail, it’s not worth breaking the law to do it.

Activities
There are (at least) two places you’ll certainly want to check out during your trip visiting the Oregon National Historic Trail. The first is the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho. They offer a simulated Wagon Trail Adventure, a museum, exhibits, and more. The second is the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center in Oregon City, Oregon where you can do a variety of activities ranging from visiting the Heritage Garden to perusing through The Country Store. Heading to both places is a great way to learn more about the history of the trail and what the pioneers went through during their trip.

Need a place to grab a bite to eat and to sleep? There are plenty of stops along the way that you can make whether you want to rest your head or you’re looking to chow down on some delicious food. For example, one such place you might want to consider stopping off at is the Oregon Trail Restaurant & Motel. You should also consider taking some safety precautions during your trip such as taking a portable power bank with you and sticking to a planned route that you let loved ones know about. Lastly, don’t forget to bring your camera! You’re sure to get some incredible pictures along the way.