Idaho · National Reserve trail

City of Rocks National Reserve, the California Trail

in Idaho

Although there may have been some visitation to the area by Europeans and Americans during the fur trade and exploration-era, the establishment of the California Trail through the City of Rocks is what brought the first significant number of European-Americans to what is now the Reserve. The City of Rocks National Reserve is a National Historic Landmark associated with the mass overland westward migration. Emigrants traveling the California Trail would reach Circle Creek in the City of Rocks and nooned or camped.

Some of these emigrants left their names on the rocks along the trail within the Reserve. Emigrant Remarks "Last eve went to the City rocks. They are at the junction of the California & Salt Lake roads.

They are white & about 300 ft high running up to a peak. They are composed of a substance resembling salts & are in a state of decomposition. A few more years & then will be leveled with the ground. They look at a distance like a ruined city." - Lucena Parsons - April 23, 1850 Site Information Location (Near Almo, Idaho) Safety Considerations City of Rocks National Reserve California National Historic Trail

States: Idaho
Trail type: National Reserve trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 129 mi · ~3.7 hr drive
Centroid coords: 42.0914°, -113.6325°

About City Of Rocks National Reserve

National Reserve

This trail is inside City Of Rocks National Reserve, a national reserve managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/city-of-rocks-national-reserve-the-california-trail.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/ciro/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked City of Rocks National Reserve, the California Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.