Opened by Jim Beckwourth, the Beckwourth Trail was a significant trail that crossed the Sierra Mountains. Its main claim to fame was that it had the lowest elevation crossing of the mountains and was a much needed alternative to the difficult mountain crossings on the Carson and Truckee Trail routes. It departed from the Truckee Trail in present day Sparks, Nevada and headed west to Marysville, California.
Built in 1899 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, it sits on the Beckwourth Trail. It was donated to the Wyandotte Community Association and named after the pioneer of the Wyandotte area, William Dunstone. In 2016, it became the home of Argonaut . . . — — Map (db m159622) HM
"We descended in to the head of a beautiful valley here we found things requisite for camping ... our road led immediately down the valley from camp ... with a good level road all the way." - John C. Thorniley, Aug 16-17, 1852 — — Map (db m148331) HM
"The road now continues down the valley ... thirteen miles. Here is a spring of water near the road, on the left. Also a small stream, the head waters of Feather River. ...Passed several [mountains] called buttes." - Henry T. Baldy, Sep 8, 1852 — — Map (db m148732) HM
“Beckwiths House (is) the first house that I have seen since I left (Ft.) Laramie... at Beckwiths House the roads fork, the left hand goes to 76 & Maryesville, the right hand is called Beckwiths rout to Maryesville.” – John F. . . . — — Map (db m66177) HM
Beckwourth, a mountaineer, trader, and Crow Chief, discovered and promoted this emigrant trail. In 1852, near this site, he established the first waystop for emigrants between here and Salt Lake City. — — Map (db m66176) HM
This marker is made up of four panels. They are presented left to right.
Agriculture in Sierra Valley
A few years after James Beckwourth settled on what he called the War Horse Ranch just west of here in 1852, more ranches and farms . . . — — Map (db m66179) HM
Lowest pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Discovered in 1851 by
James P. Beckwourth
Dedicated to the discoverer and to the pioneers who passed along this trail by the Las Plumas Parlor No. 254 N.D.G.W.
May 1937
No desert’s waste nor . . . — — Map (db m143424) HM
"Trow informed us we were in California, when father gave three loud cheers, which echoed from the rocks and hills about us. Willie said that he would not like to spend his life in California if this was it." - Harriet S. Ward, Oct 1, 1853 — — Map (db m148728) HM
“Crossed a brook with high banks, where Squire Stephens upset the wagon he was driving in which was Philip Linthicum and he was hurt very badly” – John Dalton, Sep. 2, 1852 — — Map (db m56549) HM
“... camped in order to cut some grass to feed along the road ahead, and also on account of P. Linthicum who was still very sick; not expected to live.” – John Dalton, Sep. 3, 1852 — — Map (db m56548) HM
Now under water, Rich Valley and Bucks Ranch (1850) made a superb stopping place for emigrants of 1851 and later. “Good grass, wood and water” – John Dalton, Sep. 1, 1852 — — Map (db m56536) HM
This marker stands on part of the American Ranch of 1850. A way stop for emigrants of 1851 and later. “Here were obtained some fine vegetables...” Joshua Variel. Sept. 17, 1852 — — Map (db m56403) HM
“Had a hard road, crooked & rocky. Had to cross (Greenhorn) creek 8 times in going 5 miles. Got down to the New England Ranch at noon, camped here for today.” - Chester Smith, Sep. 27, 1852. — — Map (db m66159) HM
Millions in gold were taken from the Spanish Creek Mines between 1851 and 1905. To supply the miners the small town of New Boston sprang up at the mouth of Wahponsey Creek. Complete with a toll gate, apple orchard and gardens, in the 1870’s it was . . . — — Map (db m56530) HM
"We beheld a large valley spread out before us, surrounded by majestic mountains covered with pine and snow. Six miles down the valley brought us into camp on the banks of a branch of Feather River." - Jacob S Hayden, Aug 19, 1853 — — Map (db m148730) HM
Beckwourth Trail – Marysville. “Started for Marysville with good road at noon... hitched up and plodded on our dusty road to Marysville, where we arrived at 4 o’clock. This is a busy little place, but they had just had quite an extensive fire” . . . — — Map (db m113874) HM
"We travelled about 17 miles and encamped near the Peavine
Springs, with good grass and water, but no fuel except
buffalo chips. Our road stony and bad evening fine." -
Harriet Sherrill Ward, Sep 29, 1853
Guidebook available
Trails . . . — — Map (db m263650) HM
"Came to another valley and lake. the road led where the lake had recently been but the water receded and left the ground hard, smooth and white and it had the resemblance to ice when the sun shone upon it. - Mariett Foster Cummings, Aug 13, 1852 . . . — — Map (db m263649) HM
The historic road corridors from the Truckee Meadows northwestward into the Honey Lake area contains a tangle of intertwined routes following the course of valleys, portions of an emigrant trail cutoff, toll roads, county roads and casual parallel . . . — — Map (db m115855) HM
Beckwourth Trail - Golden Valley
"Here the trail leads around the western slope
of the red buttes and... over a sandy, stony and
rolling country". - Jacob S. Hayden, Aug 18, 1852
Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. Box . . . — — Map (db m263652) HM
"Leaving the [Truckee] river bore off to the right over a sage plain near a mile with rather sandy road to the base of a low ridge." - D. B. Andrews, Aug 9, 1852 — — Map (db m263531) HM
Truckee Trail - North Side of River
"Crossed to the north side of river,... keeping on N. side of this crossing the right hand road is the Beckworth route, we keep up river fifteen miles here by taking [a new] dim road to the left and . . . — — Map (db m263931) HM
[Just before fording to the north side of Truckee River]" the road forks the left hand one is the old Truckee Route to Sacramento...The right hand one and the one we traveled is Beckwiths Cutoff [Beckwourth Trail]" - East S. Owen, Aug 22, 1852 — — Map (db m263932) HM
