Route of the Walker River Trail

The Walker River Emigrant Trail began on the Carson River a mile east of the present day site of Fort Churchill. Emigrants crossed the Carson River and followed the Adrian Valley south to the Walker River. Staying to the west side of the river, they continued south past present day Yerington, Nevada, to the entrance of Wilson Canyon. There they crossed the river and swung south to Mickey Canyon. After crossing the mountains to Smith Valley, they returned to the West Walker River and followed it to today's Wellington, Nevada. They passed through Hoye Canyon and into Antelope Valley.

Near Coleville the emigrants climbed into Little Antelope Valley and then up the steep ridge and into Lost Cannon Canyon. Following the creek they climbed to the summit overlooking Pickel Meadow and dropped down the moutainside into the valley near the location of the Marine Mountain Training Center.

They crossed the Walker River into Poore Valley, moved up to Poore Lake, and then crossed the ridge into Leavitt Meadow. From there they worked their way through the winding canyons along the West Walker River until finally reaching Fremont Lake. Beyond the lake they climbed to Chain of Lakes and then up the canyons to the summit of the Sierra Nevada.

Once across the pass they crossed the high meadows around the many emigrant lakes, crossed Brown Bear Pass, and descended Summit Creek canyon. At Relief Valley they turned south to Upper Relief and then across to Burst Rock. From the top of Burst Rock they stuck to the ridges until past Dodge Ridge and then descended to Pinecrest.

Beyond Pinecrest the emigrant trail follows the ridge line parallel to Highway 108 down through Twain Harte, past modern day Phoenix Lake, and into Sonora.

Map of the Walker River Trail

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