Spanning nearly 2,000 mi (3219 km) from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, the Oregon Trail was traversed by hundreds of thousands of pioneers headed west in the 19th century. It passed through six states; Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon; Utah wasn’t one of them as it lies in the Southwest. From Missouri the trail headed northwest, following the Platte River across the Plains, into Wyoming, and across Idaho.

Lewis and Clark traveled the American West from 1803-1806, exploring and mapping, but trappers, traders, merchants and missionaries established the trail.

Initially it was only accessible on foot or by horseback, but by 1836 a wagon route had been cleared as far as Idaho. In 1843 Marcus Whitman helped lead the first major wagon train of around 1,000 settlers along the Oregon Trail, an exodus now known as the “Great Migration“. The trail ended at the Willamette Valley in Oregon, hence the name.

Most pioneers shunned the large unwieldy Conestoga wagon, as it was ill-suited for the rough terrain and river crossings they faced. They opted to tackle the trek in smaller wagons known as “Prairie Schooners”. These vehicles typically had a wooden bed about four feet wide and ten feet long (1.3x10m). Pulled by teams of oxen or mules, the wagons made their way to Oregon at a pace of 15-20 mi (24-32 km) a day; the trip took 4-5 months. The ride was rough; many opted to walk instead.

Photo shows “Scott’s Bluff” in Nebraska, a Trail landmark.

More Info: www.history.com