Applegate Trail

The Applegate Trail was a pioneering route used by settlers moving west in the 1840s and 1850s. It was an alternative to the Oregon Trail, created by the Applegate brothers to provide a safer and more practical path across the Rocky Mountains and into Oregon. The trail passed through territories that are now parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. It was primarily used by emigrants, traders, and explorers seeking to settle or improve trade routes. Although less traveled than the main Oregon Trail, the Applegate Trail played a significant role in westward expansion and settlement of the Pacific Northwest.