Near Trinity Center in Trinity County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

California – Oregon Stage Road

1860 – 1887

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012

1. California – Oregon Stage Road Marker

Inscription. A pack trail in 1851, Greathouse & Co. muled passengers by 1854. James E. Carr contracted by the California Stage Co., finished the last six miles of road from Trinity River to here, Sept. 14, 1860. The first daily mail and passenger stage, driven by Williamson Lyncoya Smith, crossed over two days later. A stage stop and 100 mule barn, for lodging, meals and relief teams was located here. The winter road was kept open by oxen to break trail and sleighs to carry passengers and express. Known as the Western Branch of the California – Oregon Trail, safer from Indian raids than trails to the east, this old toll road fell to disuse by completion of the railroad in the Sacramento River Canyon in 1887.

Erected 1986 by E Clampus Vitus, Trinitarianus Chapter No. 62 & Humbug Chapter No. 73.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1847.

Location. 41° 16.543′ N, 122° 41.881′ W. Marker is near Trinity Center, California, in Trinity County. It is on Scott Mountain Road (California Route 3). The marker is located at the Scott Mountain Summit (Trinity/Siskiyou County Line). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Trinity Center CA 96091, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Shasta Cascade,

on the Coast Ranges,

and in the Klamath Mountains.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and specifically in the Pacific Northwest.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: California – Oregon Trail (approx. 1.4 miles away); Church of Saints John & Paul (approx. 5.7 miles away); Hayden Hotel (approx. 5.8 miles away); Farrington Blacksmith Shop (approx. 5.9 miles away); Tacitus Ryland Arbuckle (approx. 8.3 miles away); McBride Ranch (approx. 12.9 miles away); Etna Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 16.1 miles away); This land of ‘Siskiyou’... (approx. 16.1 miles away).

Regarding California – Oregon Stage Road. The Pacific Crest Trail, which zigzags its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington crosses California 3 at this spot.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012

2. California – Oregon Stage Road Marker

Scott Mountain Summit image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012

3. Scott Mountain Summit

California – Oregon Stage Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Vintage Lithograph, n/a

4. California – Oregon Stage Road

California and Oregon Stage Line Broadside image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cowan Auctions, n/a

5. California and Oregon Stage Line Broadside

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,439 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.