Katrina Emery - Moon Oregon Trail Road Trip: Historic Sites, Small Towns, and Scenic Landscapes Along the Legendary Westward Route (Travel Guide)

KATRINA EMERY

The Oregon Trail is in many ways the countrys original road trip.

Lured by reports of the fertile Willamette Valley, emigrants loaded up their wagons and began heading west in the early 1840s. The first few wagon trains followed trails known to Native Americans, trappers, and traders; lucky ones had guides. By the mid-1850s wagons were leaving Independence, Missouri, by the hundreds every day, setting off across the rugged prairie, the Route 66 of its day. In every region, indigenous peoples watched as the emigrants rolled through their lands, some offering trade and assistance, some fearful. These interactions paved the way for future relationships.

In 2018, the trail celebrated its 175th anniversary. Once part of an unmapped territory, the Oregon Trail still goes through some of the most rural and wild landscapes the United States has to offer. The rolling green of the Kansas and Nebraska prairies gives way to rocky bluffs and high plains as the trail climbs into the rugged Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, where emigrants crossed the Continental Divide. From the western side of the watershed, the trail heads into the dramatic lava-bed canyons of Idahos Snake River Valley and the high desert of eastern Oregon before the grand finale: the waterfall-pocked Columbia River Gorge or forested Mount Hood, depending on the road taken, leading to the lush lands surrounding Oregon City, the trails endpoint.

Locations along the route became legendary, and now is the perfect chance to see them with your own eyes. What once took wagons 4-6 months to cover can now be spanned in a 30-hour drive. Following in the footsteps of the pioneers, youll learn about the complex history of the country while also exploring its natural wonders. Todays road-trippers can marvel at the landmarks the emigrants saw, walk alongside their wagon ruts, and soak in the same hot springs, while also enjoying modern attractions and amusements in parts of the country that are often overlooked. With Wild West culture, small-town charm, breweries, great local cuisine, and outdoor recreation opportunities, this route continues to offer riches. Its still ripe for discovery.

Embark on Your Own Covered-Wagon Adventure: A ride with

Walk Alongside Original Wagon : Pioneers left behind traces of their passage, still in evidence today. The deepest ruts were cut into sandstone by the passage of thousands of wagon wheels.

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Soak up the Springs: In Idaho, do as the emigrants did and dip a cup into the bubbling water at .

Celebrate at Trail-Themed Festivals and Events: Enjoy pioneer-style fun and a carnival at the in Oregon City.

Gain a Wider : Visit sites along the trail to learn about the histories of the indigenous people who lived on the land prior to the pioneers, free and enslaved black emigrants, Mormon emigrants who embarked on their own journeys west, Chinese settlers, and more.

Pick a Scenic Route: Like the pioneers, once in Oregon on the final stretch youll need to make a choicego along the

Learn at Interactive Museums: Take a simulated wagon ride guided by living-history actors at the .

Regions

Missouri and Kansas

The Oregon Trail officially begins in Independence, Missouri, where the National Frontier Trails Museum makes a good introduction to the trip, as does a visit to Independence Square, from which the wagons initially set out. From Independence, youll continue just west on the route and can catch your first wagon ruts on the way to Kansas City, where youll enjoy barbecue and lively nightlife. On the way through Kansas, take a break at Alcove Springs, where emigrants also once rested and where today you can wander terrain still bearing their traces on short hikes. Also stop to check out the routes first Pony Express Station sites; many of these were used first as stops on the Oregon Trail.

Alternatively, start your trip in St. Louis, 240 miles (386 km) west of Independence and a convenient hub. Known as the Gateway to the Westforebears Lewis and Clark kicked off their explorations hereits also a fitting starting point and allows you to visit the newly renovated Gateway Arch National Park, which has a thoughtful museum on westward expansion, as well as the playful City Museuma completely different type of museum that both kids and adults will love. At night, enjoy barbecue and live music.

Nebraska

In Nebraska youll enter the Platte River Valley, one of the most pleasant stretches the emigrants experienced along the trail. Along the way, you can make easy detours to