Wagon Trains came thru here

From the high plains, on their way to California, the emigrants continued to head west.  Going thru what is now Utah, the scouts kept an eye out for the huge mountain ahead, on what is now the Nevada-Utah border.  This mountain was their “pilot” and they watched it get bigger, day by day, as they headed directly to it.  When they finally passed by the southern part of Pilot Mountain, they found the welcoming spring which had aided earlier emigrants who came before.  From here, most of the great wagon trains followed along the Humboldt River, thru ‘Cowboy Country’, heading west toward California.

The Bidwell Trail (1841) was the route of the first emigrants to cross Nevada.

The Goose Creek-Humboldt River Emigrant Trail was the route that was used the most.

The Spanish Trail, was the oldest trail in the State and was orginally used by missionaries and traders, and later was known as the San Bernardino-Salt Lake Wagon Road.

The Pony Express Trail, which lasted only 18 months, was also an important part of early Nevada.  Established near areas of plentiful feed and water, there were 20 original pony express stations here.  After the ‘pony riders’ were disbanded, these stations became stage coach stations and operated for years.

The Death Valley Emigrant Trail may have been a shortcut to southern California, but the lack of water and rough terrain caused it to be abandoned after a few years.