Check Out this Interactive Oregon Trail Map
Use this Oregon Trail map to learn about historic locations along the trail.
Understanding geography is a big part of understanding history. The land has always had a big impact on people’s culture and movement. People of the 19th century American West were no different. Physical features, especially mountains and rivers, played a central role in how many events unfolded. One good example of this is the Oregon Trail.
The Oregon Trail was a route that spanned over 2,100 miles of the American West. It was a dangerous expedition that pioneers embarked upon in order to build a better life in the fertile lands of the West Coast. Although crossing the continent was extremely difficult, navigation often wasn’t the hardest part. More or less, the pioneers simply followed a few major rivers across the plains toward their destination. Also, early on mountain man guides were often employed to show the way and to help the wagon train travel more safely. However, as time went on, the trail became so worn and beaten that it would have been relatively easy to follow. In fact, many wagon ruts are still visible today.
It’s important to know that the Oregon Trail did not follow a particular course. The exact route varied depending on the wagon train, the year, the guide, and the destination. However, there was a basic pathway it followed. Here is an interactive Oregon Trail map that shows that basic path. The points indicate historically relevant locations and correspond to locations in my book Tyrant’s Road. Although the black line does not follow the exact route, it should help you follow the major pathway most people took.
Oregon Trail Map
Hopefully, this interactive Oregon Trail map helps you better understand history and the events in Tyrant’s Road. You can easily see that the trail was influenced by many the many rivers and mountains ranges they encountered. If you understand the physical geography of the American West, you can get a better picture of how the historic era unfolded.
