Latest News for Members
Membership Roster for 2026
June 30, 2026
The June 30, 2026 Membership Roster has been posted in our “Roster” Page of this website.
New 2026! “Henness Pass Road Driving Guide (Third Edition – 2026)” is now Available!
June 21, 2026
The Henness Pass Road Driving Guide (Second Edition – 2020) IS OUT OF PRINT AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE! It has been replaced with the “Henness Pass Road Driving Guide (Third Edition – 2026)”. You can order your copy by following this link…
Yreka Trail Trip note from Mike Vickers
May 12, 2026
First let me thank you for your interest in the upcoming Yreka Trail trip July 7th, 8th and 9th. I think it’s because this trail is so much further north of all the usual emigrant trails it kinda gets forgotten. I believe the last fun trip over the Yreka was at least ten years ago. Personally, I think the Yreka Trail is one of Trails West’s best kept secrets.
In the spring of 1851 gold was discovered at Yreka Flats and for years Yreka was known as the ‘Richest square mile on earth.’ By 1852 Yreka merchants were eager to divert some of the wagon traffic on the Applegate to their bustling new town. Once the Yreka trail was opened, most of the wagon traffic on the Applegate no longer continued on to Oregon but instead diverted west to Yreka, the Siskiyou goldfields and local agricultural opportunities in that region.
The Native Americans weren’t exactly thrilled by this development and the Yreka Trail soon saw a lot of interaction with the Indians. Right before where the Yreka Trail left the Applegate that section became known as a “fearful trail” and the bloodiest of all the early emigrant trails. In the fall of 1852 alone an estimated 36 people were killed by Indians in this area. It was such a problem the communities of Yreka and Jacksonville Oregon sent out armed volunteers to protect the wagon trains and the US Army sent out a detachment of Dragoons from Fort Jones. Just five years later you could safely make the trip riding a stagecoach.
This is not a long trail in that there are only 22 markers. It’s my hope to have a mid-morning departure from Dorris, CA. Understanding Dorris doesn’t have anything to offer in the way of food or lodging, so I think folks will want to spend the night beforehand in either Weed, CA or Klamath Falls, OR and drive to Dorris in the morning. I also have a primitive option. On this trip there is absolutely no reason to get in a hurry and I’m hoping to have two nights, two and a half days on the trail before disbanding in Yreka. Nice mellow and carefree is what I’m always thinking. For everyone’s safety all Trails West’s rules and requirements for field trips will be strictly adhered to.
So what to expect? Well, first of all a 4×4 is definitely not required, your basic SUV will make this trip no problems. You also won’t find the usual axle deep dust. I did a recon of this trail last October and it seemed I had the trail completely to myself and never had use for the four wheel drive button. I’m hoping that there are some Trails West members who have had to decline fun trips in the past because they didn’t own a high clearance truck. Well, this is the trail for you! As an added plus you get some outstanding views of the east side of Mount Shasta and will travel a unique part of California history.
Interested? Let me know. Michael VickersSnakatack@icloud.com
The Trails West Field Trips for 2026
April 18, 2026
The Trails West Field Trips for 2026 has been posted in our 2026 Field Trips page of this website.
The website Calendar has also been updated showing all of the activities and events planned for this year.
Spring 2026 Marker
February 16, 2026
The Spring 2026 Marker has been posted in our “Marker” Page of this website.
New 2026! A Guide to the Truckee Trail – From the Humboldt Dike to the Crest of the Sierra Nevada (First Edition – 2026)” is now Available!
February 8, 2026
The Truckee Trail & Nevada City Road Driving Guide (Sixth Edition – 2021) IS OUT OF PRINT AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE! It has been replaced with “A Guide to the Truckee Trail – From the Humboldt Dike to the Crest of the Sierra Nevada (First Edition – 2026)”. You can order your copy by following this link…
TW Conference
January 31, 2026
The First Announcement of TW Conference for June 10-12, 2026 has been posted.
Three Board Member Vacancies to Fill
January 17, 2026
As you should all know, this year’s banquet is in June and that’s when our new Board of Directors will be seated.
This being an even year (2026) we have three vacancies to fill. We need you!
So, what this email is about is to ask all members if they would be willing to step up and run for the Board. We cannot operate as an organization without a full Board of Directors so please think seriously about running. Although being a Director is a very important position, it is not very time-consuming. Don’t let that affect your decision to run. It is very rewarding and gives one an opportunity to guide our organization over the coming years. A Director is elected for a two-year term and then can run again for an additional two terms for a total of six years before having to sit out for a year. This is all outlined in our Bylaws which can be viewed on our website.
If you would be willing to serve on the Board, please let myself, Meg, or Steve W know at the emails listed below by February 21st.
At a later date, you will need to submit a brief Candidate statement describing your qualifications and interest in serving, along with a picture of yourself. It is newly revised so please take a look! There is an attachment outlining the minimum requirements to be a candidate so look them over and if you are interested, or have any questions, let us know.
We can be reached at davemaron@sbcglobal.net, megannezbierski@gmail.com, or twmembership@outlook.com .
We thank you so much for your consideration of this important role!
Regards,
Dave Maron, Meg Zbierski and Steve Whitehorn – 2026 Nomination Committee
We need your help!
With all the markers we have out on the trails, many of them are getting to where they need maintenance work. Attached here is an Inspection Report form and guidelines that can be printed out and it would be a great help if anyone out on a trail would take a copy along and fill it out as they pass by a marker. It would also be a big help if you would fill it out even if a marker is fine. That way we’ll know that someone won’t need to make a special trip to check it. The form can then be filled out on a computer and emailed to:
twinfo(at)emigranttrailswest.org – Don’t forget to replace the (at) with @
Thanks, this would be a big help in our continuing efforts to maintain our markers.
Name Tags for Trails West
Roger Gash reports he looked into an item from last October’s Board of Directors meeting where some members expressed interest in getting a Trails West name tag. He found name tags for $19/each that can be directly ordered from the maker by email. What follows is the cost for plastic ones with a walnut color surface, not oak grain as many already have, but about the same size. Incuse letters laser cut through the surface will be white. There will be two lines of info, like:
TRAILS WEST, INC. (SMALLER FONT)
JOHN DOE (LARGER FONT)
$11 Each with pin back, add $2.48 for magnetic back
$3 Handling charge
@$5 for shipping – exact amount to be determined by address
Add tax at 8.65%
Engravers of Reno
1170 S. Wells Ave., Suite #6
Reno, NV 89702
775-786-0776
contact@engraversreno.com
Store hours M-F 9:00 – 5:30
This information is good as of March 3rd, 2022.