National Historic Trails are routes of significant historical and cultural value which have been designated for preservation by act of Congress and are included in the National Trails System. Most of the National Historic Trails are scenic highway routes rather than footpaths, although all of them provide hiking or other outdoor activities.
There are a total of 19 National Historic Trails on the list comprising over 33,000 miles. Individual trails vary widely in length. The longest is the 5,665 mile California Trail. The shortest is the 54 mile Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
National Historic Trails
Oregon National Historic Trail 2,170 miles (3,490 km) [map] Follow the path of settlers heading west through six states on the Oregon Trail. Passes through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon.
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail 1,300 miles (2,100 km) [map] Explore the pioneer trail traveled by over 70,000 Mormons escaping religious persecution between 1846-1849. Passes through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 3,700 miles (6,000 km) [map] Follow the adventures of Lewis and Clark and the Corp of Discovery in their search for a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Passes through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Iditarod National Historic Trail 2,350 miles (3,780 km) [map] Discover the main artery of Alaska winter commerce during the 1880-1920 gold rush era. Located in Alaska.
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail 275 miles (443 km) [map] Traces the Revolutionary War route used by patriot militia during the pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. Passes through Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Nez Perce National Historic Trail 1,170 miles (1,880 km) [map] Commemorates the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce Indians from their homeland in the Pacific Northwest to Canada to escape capture by the U.S. Military.
Santa Fe National Historic Trail 1,203 miles (1,936 km) [map] Follow the march of commerce from the midwest to Santa Fe. Passes through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico.
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail 2,200 miles (3,500 km) [map] Commemorates the 1838-1839 forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands and resettlement in so-called Indian territory. Passes through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail 1,200 miles (1,900 km) [maps] Celebrates the Anza Expedition of 1775-1776, which established the first non-native settlement on San Francisco Bay. Passes through Arizona and California.
California Trail 5,665 miles (9,117 km) [map] Follow the path of over 250,000 settlers moving west in search of gold during the 1840s and 1850s. The nation’s longest historic trail, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and California.
Pony Express National Historic Trail 1,966 miles (3,164 km) [map] Young men on horseback carried the mail from Missouri to California in just 10 days along this historic route. Passes through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California.
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail 54 miles (87 km) [map] The nation’s shortest historic trail commemorates the people, places and events along the route of the 1965 Voting Rights March. Located in Alabama.
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail 404 miles (650km) [map] Discover 300 years of heritage and culture along the Spanish colonial “Royal Road.” Passes through New Mexico and Texas.
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail 175 miles (282 km) [map] Explore Hawaiian history and traditional culture along this Big Island preservation trail. Located in Hawaii.
Old Spanish National Historic Trail 2,700 miles (4,300 km) [map] Follow the trading routes of mule pack trains across the southwest. Passes through New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California.
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail 2,580 miles (4,150 km) [map] Journey through 300 years of frontier settlement along the Spanish colonial “Royal Road.” Passes through Texas and Louisiana.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail 3,000 miles (4,800 km) [map] Trace John Smith’s important early exploration of the Chesapeake Bay region and its native people. Passes through Virginia. Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and New York.
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail 290 miles (470 km) [map] Discover the War of 1812 people, places and events that led to the making of our National Anthem. Passes through Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail 600 miles (970 km) [map] Explore the historic cooperation and combined movement of American and French troops during the Revolutionary War Campaign of 1781. Passes through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
