Near Newell in Modoc County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Applegate Trail - Bloody Point

California Historical Landmark No. 8

— California Trail —

Applegate Trail - Bloody Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 17, 2016

1. Applegate Trail - Bloody Point Marker

The other side of this marker is Burnett Cutoff marker.

Inscription. “Over divide to Tule Lake, on Lost River, passed in sight of Bloody Point where a train of emigrants were cut off last year. This afternoon Geo. W. Ebey killed a brant on the lake. Oh, so good to eat.” —James Henry Bascomb Royal, Oct 19, 1853.

Erected 2009 by Trails West, Inc. (Marker Number A-44.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Applegate Trail, the California Historical Landmarks, the California Trail, and the Trails West Inc. series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 19, 1853.

Location. 41° 56.228′ N, 121° 20.307′ W. Marker is near Newell, California, in Modoc County. It is on Old Alturas Highway (County Route 114) 1.1 miles north of County Route 101, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tulelake CA 96134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Modoc Plateau

and in the Shasta Cascade.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Burnett Cutoff - At Klamath [Tule] Lake (here, next to this marker); Tule Lake Segregation Center (approx. 3.9 miles away); Tule Lake (approx. 4 miles away); Battle of Dry Lake Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away); Canby’s Cross

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(approx. 4.2 miles away); Captain Jack’s Stronghold (approx. 4.2 miles away); Warm Springs Indians (approx. 4.2 miles away); Burnett Cutoff - Muddy Waters (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newell.

Regarding Applegate Trail - Bloody Point. In 1932, Bloody Point was designated California Historical Landmark No. 8 - “In 1850 one of the bloodiest massacres of emigrants ever known on the Oregon Trail occurred here when Modoc Indians killed over 90 men, women, and children in a surprise attack. The following year another large party narrowly escaped the same fate, and the Indians succeeded in killing several smaller parties here.”

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 17, 2016

2. Applegate Trail - Bloody Point Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 3, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.