Emigrant Trail
Emigrant Trail is a State Scenic Byway in California. Within California it covers roughly 130 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Emigrant Trail with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Emigrant Trail is a scenic byway across northeastern California's Modoc County, linking the region's volcanic-themed byways on both sides of the Oregon border. It connects California's Modoc Volcanic and Shasta Volcanic byways to Oregon's Outback and Volcanic Legacy byways just across the state line. From New Pine Creek on the Oregon border, the route runs south on US Highway 395 to Alturas, then west on State Highway 299 to Canby, before turning northwest on State Highway 139 to Tulelake, where it links up with the existing volcanic byways. The corridor runs close to real remnants of several historic emigrant routes, including the Applegate, Lassen, and Burnett trails used by 19th-century wagon trains, and passed through territory crossed by early explorers including John C. Fremont and Hudson's Bay Company trader Peter Skeen Ogden. Along the way the landscape shifts constantly: volcanic peaks and old lava flows give way to deep canyons and wide-open meadows, reflecting the geologic violence that shaped this corner of the Cascade-Modoc Plateau. It's a quiet, little-trafficked route through California's far northeastern corner, built more around historical and geological connections than any single dramatic landmark.
- New Pine Creek to Tulelake
- US-395 / SR-299 / SR-139
- connects Modoc Volcanic & Shasta Volcanic byways
- Applegate, Lassen & Burnett emigrant trails
- Modoc County lava flows
- John C. Fremont & Peter Skeen Ogden history
Plan a drive on Emigrant Trail →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Emigrant Trail
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Emigrant Trail.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.