Nobles Emigrant Trail

The Nobles Emigrant Trail is a historic route that runs from the Applegate Trail in Nevada to Shasta City, California, passing through diverse landscapes and mountain passes. The path follows the journey that thousands of settlers took during the 1800s to reach northern California.

William Nobles established this alternative route in 1851 as a shorter path connecting Nevada and northern California for settlers seeking new opportunities. It quickly became an important alternative to longer existing trails and was heavily used by emigrants during the mid-1800s.

The trail displays 65 inscription plates featuring excerpts from emigrant diaries written between 1849 and 1865. These firsthand accounts reveal what daily life was like for people traveling this route to find new homes in California.

Access to the trail is available via Smoke Creek Road, which connects to Highway 395 North near Susanville, with guidance available from local BLM offices. Visitors are advised to check current conditions and signage before heading out to make the most of their experience.

A 24-mile section within Lassen Volcanic National Park preserves wagon ruts and ground depressions that mark the original path of settlers. These physical traces offer a direct sense of the actual route that thousands of people traveled with their horses and wagons.

Location: Shasta County

Location: Lassen County

GPS coordinates: 40.54722,-121.42472

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44