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

California – Oregon Stage Road

1860 – 1887

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.

Marker series. This marker is included in the E Clampus Vitus marker series.

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

Other nearby markers. At least

By Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012

2. California – Oregon Stage Road Marker

8 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. California – Oregon Trail / California – Oregon Road (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); This land of ‘Siskiyou’... (approx. 16.1 miles away); Hallie Morse Daggett (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.

Categories. • Roads & Vehicles •

Scott Mountain Summit image. Click for full size.

By Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012

3. Scott Mountain Summit

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

By Vintage Lithograph, n/a

4. California – Oregon Stage Road

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

By Cowan Auctions, n/a

5. California and Oregon Stage Line Broadside

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 598 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.