Hastings (Cutoff) Road 1846

The Hard Way to California

Contributed by Steve F. Russell

Perhaps the biggest fallacy within the system of western trails to California is the Hastings (Cutoff) Road (Hastings Road). It seems that its primary purpose was to give employment and notoriety to Lansford Hastings rather than to provide emigrants and gold seekers with a better route to the Humboldt River. The cutoff is almost entirely within the Great Basin of the western United States, which means mostly desert or semi-desert conditions and mostly poor water.

Topics

Google Maps Lewis and Clark Trail Route Center Line Mullan Road Lolo Trail Trail Inventory Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail Oregon-California Trails Bird-Truax Trail Other Fur Trade Methodology Carroll Trail

Contributors

Steve F. Russell Kristopher K. Townsend US National Park Service (LCNHT) Robert H. Dunsmore Richard S. Buswell Martin Plamondon II James D. Harlan Ralph Saunders David and Sue Eakin Raymond Borchers