Near Davis Creek in Modoc County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
South Road - Blazed Pine Tree
| | California Trail | |
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 29, 2020
1. South Road - Blazed Pine Tree Marker
written '5 M. TO WATER' over a very, very rocky road,
literally paved, to steep decent 4 miles
along valley, 5 m. grass and water."
John Pratt Welsh, Sep 7, 1851
Erected by Trails West, Inc. (Marker Number A-39.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 7, 1851.
Location. 41° 48.714′ N, 120° 49.3′ W. Marker is near Davis Creek, California, in Modoc County. It is on Mowitz Rd (Forest Road 46N10), on the right when traveling south. Trails West Inc. provides directions to this marker: From Marker A-38, return to FS Route 46. Turn right. Go 0.3 miles to the marker on the left. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Davis Creek CA 96108, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: South Road - Applegate Trail (approx. 3.1 miles away); Applegate Trail (approx. 3.1 miles away); Applegate Trail - Pothole Spring (approx.
this page online
Regarding South Road - Blazed Pine Tree. The Applegate Trail that passed through here is an approximate trail section from Marker A-38 to Marker A-39 due to heavy logging over the years which have eliminated virtually any traces of the trail through this portion. With that said, there is another carsonite marker located about 50 yards north of this historical marker and placed by the Oregon California Trails Association at a more definite location of the Applegate Trail.
Trails West, Inc. sells a driving guidebook titled A Guide to the Applegate Trail - From Goose Lake to Southern Oregon which provides maps and additional history on the Applegate Trail as it passed through designated marker locations. Purchasing this guidebook prior to visiting the Applegate Trail markers is highly encouraged to gain a better experience of the history of this historic trail.
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 29, 2020
2. South Road - Blazed Pine Tree Marker
View of marker and near where the Applegate Trail crossed, going east to west and nearby former blazed tree mentioned on the marker plaque.
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 29, 2020
3. OR-CA Trails Association marker
View of the carsonite marker placed by the Oregon California Trails Association and designating a more accurate location of the Applegate Trail as it passed through here heading west.
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 29, 2020
4. OR-CA Trails Association marker
View of the carsonite marker placed by the Oregon California Trails Association and designating a more accurate location of the Applegate Trail as it passed through here from the east. Located about 50 yards north of the Trails West Inc. marker. A very faint trail swale can be seen in the distance.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2020, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 307 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 3, 2020, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
