American Trailblazers: A Look at America’s Most Significant Historic Trails

Plan your next hiking adventure through the lens of the early U.S. settlers and indigenous American people

Today, most of us think of trails as opportunities for a great outdoor run or hike, a place to walk our furry companions, or as a chance to simply enjoy nature. In essence, they are a known path that carries us from one place to another. Historically, trails played a critical role in shaping the early U.S. landscape, serving as vital routes for exploration, migration, trade, and military movements. 

These paths were often the lifelines that connected various regions of the country, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas; helping to shape the nation's expansion and development. They were also a source of great distress for many Native Americans as the early pioneers coursed and plotted their way through the “land of the free.”

Next time you set out on your favorite hike, or perhaps make a pilgrimage to one of these cultural landmarks, you’ll have a new appreciation for trails and the role they played in the making of America. Even better, you will be able to regale cocktail party-goers with facts they had either forgotten—or didn’t know in the first place.

Facilitating Westward Expansion

As settlers moved westward, trails became essential for establishing new settlements and claiming land. The Oregon Trail, for instance, was a major route for pioneers traveling from the Midwest to the fertile lands of Oregon, California, and other western territories. 

The California Trail similarly facilitated the Gold Rush, attracting thousands of prospectors to California in the mid-1800s. These trails were crucial for expanding the U.S. territory, particularly after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and through subsequent treaties with Native American tribes, opening up the western frontier to European settlers.

Enabling Trade and Commerce

Many early trails were key trade routes. The Santa Fe Trail, for example, connected Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was a major commercial route for goods such as silver, furs, and woolen goods. It also linked U.S. settlers with Mexican trade routes, facilitating commerce between the two nations. 

The National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, was the first major federally funded highway, stretching from Maryland to Illinois. It helped promote economic expansion and trade between the eastern U.S. and the frontier regions.

Supporting Exploration and Mapping

Trails were often used by explorers to map uncharted territories. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) followed trails and rivers across the western U.S. as they sought to establish a U.S. presence in the West and document the vast resources of the newly acquired land.

Military expeditions also relied on trails for strategic purposes. For example, General John C. Fremont's expeditions helped map the western territories, opening the way for future settlers and explorers.

Native American Routes and Cultural Significance

Many of the trails used by early settlers and explorers were already established paths used by Native American tribes for centuries. These indigenous peoples had intricate networks of trails that connected them to hunting grounds, trading partners, and sacred sites.

Unfortunately, as European settlers moved westward, these Native American trails became routes for the forced relocation of tribes, such as along the Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee were removed from their ancestral lands and forced to march to designated territories in the West.

Military and Strategic Importance

Trails were also significant in the movement of military forces. For instance, the Mormon Trail was used by the Mormon community to flee religious persecution and establish a settlement in Utah. It also became important during the U.S. military campaigns to control the West and assert dominance over indigenous populations.

In addition, the Continental Divide Trail and other paths helped military leaders traverse mountainous regions to assert control over vital territories during the Mexican-American War and Civil War.

Shaping the American Identity

The westward trails became symbols of the American spirit of exploration, adventure, and perseverance. The challenges faced by pioneers and settlers traveling these trails helped forge a sense of national identity around themes of resilience and manifest destiny—the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.

Trails like the Appalachian Trail symbolized the exploration of natural beauty and a deep connection to the land, influencing American ideals about nature and outdoor recreation.

Influencing Infrastructure and Transportation

As more people traveled the trails, roads and railroads were constructed to improve transportation and communication across the expanding U.S. infrastructure. The National Road (referenced above) and later, railroads like the Transcontinental Railroad, followed similar routes to those that had originally been used by trailblazers.

As any avid hiker or outdoor adventure-seeker will tell you, trails also led to the establishment of national parks and protected lands, helping preserve the natural beauty and history of these areas for future generations. These arteries through which early America expanded, connected, and evolved were critical to migration, trade, military action, and exploration. 

It’s strange to think that something as seemingly mundane as a trail would contribute to the economic, cultural, and political development of our country, and we hope this gives you a renewed appreciation for our national trails—as well as those who were, and continue to be, American trailblazers.