Thousand Mile Tree, Railroad landmark tree in Weber Canyon, US
The Thousand Mile Tree is a pine growing near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks within Weber Canyon, marking a historically significant distance point along the transcontinental route. The site sits in a narrow canyon where steep rock walls frame both the railroad line and the highway that run side by side.
In January 1869, railroad workers identified this spot as exactly one thousand miles west of the eastern terminus in Omaha during transcontinental railroad construction. The distance measurement was recorded as workers surveyed the route westward.
The tree has been documented through photographs by notable photographers such as Eadweard Muybridge and Carleton E. Watkins during the western expansion period.
The site is reachable via Interstate 80 or U.S. Route 30, which both run parallel to the railroad tracks through the canyon. You can spot the tree from the road, but stay cautious if approaching the active rail area.
The original tree stood about 90 feet tall and was replaced in 1982 with the pine you see today still growing on site. Early photographers including notable artists captured the original specimen, creating a photographic record of the landmark.
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