The Yreka Trail is described in a Trails West guidebook which may be available for purchase in the CTIC gift shop or you can purchase it directly from Trails West on their website.
Marker Y-1
THE TRAIL FORKS
"This morning the volunteers considered us out of danger, and - left us to go on alone - We had tolerable good road. Four miles from camp we came to where the Oregon Trail strikes off to the right." - George McCowen, August 27, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-1 and A-50.
Marker A-50
Marker Y-1 (on the back side of A-50) looking northeast
Looking west toward Marker Y-1
Marker Y-2
WILLOW SPRINGS
"A cold day went 10 miles came to Willow Springs and camp" - Phoebe S. Terwilliger, October 9, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-2
Looking south toward Marker Y-2
Looking north toward Marker Y-2
Marker Y-3
OVER ROCKEY ROADS
"Drove over 12 miles, but over rockey roads. Good feed." - James S. Cowden, October 7, 1853
Closeup of Marker Y-3.
Looking northwest toward Marker Y-3.
Looking southeast toward Marker Y-3.
Marker Y-4
NO WATER
"After noon we drove on until night and no water to be seen anywhare; so we pitched camp and stayed all night without water; in the morning we hitched up and pushed on for water" - James Bardin, August 9, 1855
Closeup of Marker Y-4
Looking west along Red Rock road toward Marker Y-4
Swale in the field next to Marker Y-4
Marker Y-5
ONE VERY STEEP STONY HILL
"At noon we came to a pine forest. Traveled in it the rest of the day. One very steep stony hill to go up. Road considerably stony at intervals all day." - George McCowen, August 28, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-5
Trail remnant next to Marker Y-5
Trail remnant next to Marker Y-5
Marker Y-6
QUITE A STREAM
"Made a drive of 20 miles and campt on what is called Butte Creek, quite a stream. Several hunters came into camp ... with ... game; ... meat is just delicious when a man is really hungry." - James S. Cowden, October 8, 1853
Closeup of Marker Y-6
Marker Y-6
Marker Y-6
Marker Y-6
Marker Y-6A
QUITE STONY TODAY
"Started at 6 went on to pine woods took dinner no water or grass then passed on to Butte Creek & followed it three miles & campt round a little lake quite stony to day poor country" - Hinsdale Truman Shepard, September 4, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-6A
Marker Y-6A and associated trail remnants
Trail remnants northeast of Marker Y-6A
Marker Y-6B
OUT OF DANGER
"We are now out of the Diggers land and in the Shasta valley tribe [country] they are not so hostile" - Sophronia Helen Stone, September 20, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-6B
Looking northeast toward Marker Y-6B
Looking southwest toward Marker Y-6B
Marker Y-7
UP BUTTE CREEK
"The next day we followed up Butte Creek for six miles and pitched our tents. We lost a fine horse here." - Andrew Soule, September 29, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-7
Looking north at Marker Y-7
Carsonite trail marker near Marker Y-7
Marker Y-8
NEAR A LITTLE LAKE
"Made 24 miles and have camped near a little lake ... in sight of a house. ... we got some flower, milk and a few potatoes and took them to camp ... it was the first good meal we have had for a good while." - Charles J. Cummings, September 12, 1859
Closeup of Marker Y-8
Looking south toward Marker Y-8 and the Orr Lake Campground
Marker Y-9
ARE YET ON BUTTE CREEK
"Only drove 6 miles to a good camping place. Are yet on Butte Creek. There is a large amount of timber... the hills and mountains are nearly all covered with a heavy growth of pine timber." - James S. Cowden, October 9, 1853
Closeup of Marker Y-9
Looking northwest along Tenant Road next to Marker Y-9
Marker Y-10
TO A SWAMP
"The last day of September we journeyed twelve miles to a swamp. It is now called Grass Valley." - Andrew Soule, September 30, 1854
This marker was replaced in 2019. The previous marker had the following inscription on it.
SPLENDID PINE TIMBER
"Passed through splendid pine timber & fur & spruce ... passed the dividing ridge of the Shasta mountains verry rough & bad roads this afternoon 18 miles to day not so well [in] pm" - Hinsdale Truman Shepard, September 5, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-10
Marker Y-10 and a Carsonite trail marker next to it.
Looking south next to Marker Y-10
Marker Y-10 was replaced in 2019. This is a photo of the previous marker.
Marker Y-11
A BIG MEADOW
"Went 15 miles came to a big meadow [Grass Lake] & campt we took water with us this morning found no good water here" - Phoebe S. Terwilliger, October 11, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-11
Marker Y-11
Grass Lake near Marker Y-11
Marker Y-12
A SPLENDID CITE
"Here we came in cite of the bute it is a splendid cite went down the hill on to the flats Spencer & Brill shot a deer." - Hinsdale Truman Shepard, September 6, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-12
Marker Y-12 is next to the Mt. Shasta Viewpoint parking area on highway 97
The butte referred to by Shepard is Mt. Shasta
Marker Y-13
SHEEP ROCK
"Stop at Sheep Rock here is cedar and pine large strait and tall now this is a large rocky region where the mountain sheep abounds deer and antelope to" - Sophronia Helen Stone, September 22, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-13
Trail remnant next to Marker Y-13
Mt. Shasta and Shastina from near Marker Y-13
Marker Y-14
SHEEP ROCK SPRINGS
"Made a drive of 20 miles and campt by what are called Sheep Rock Springs, at the head of Shasta River Valley and about 30 miles from our destination, Yreka City." - James S. Cowden, October 10, 1853
Closeup of Marker Y-14
Looking east toward Marker Y-14
Looking south near Marker Y-14
Marker Y-15
THE SNELLING RANCH
"The first day of October we journeyed west fourteen miles to the Snelling Ranch, now called the Hurd Ranch, near Sheep Rock, Shasta Valley." - Andrew Soule, October 1, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-15
Looking northwest next to Marker Y-15 along Harry Cash Road
Marker Y-16
DOWN SHASTA VALLEY
"Drove 16 miles down Shasta Valley, most of the way good roads, no hills to cross now, but in places the road is stony. Today passed one or two houses. The first I have seen for several months" - James S. Cowden, October 11, 1853
Closeup of Marker Y-16
Looking southeast toward Mt. Shasta
Looking northwest along Harry Cash Road
Marker Y-17
SPLENDED ROADS
"then came on down the valley. Splended roads. ... came to some person ... who gave us some squashes and other vegetables ... melons, beets, onions ... we had a little of every thing for breakfast." - Charles J. Cummings, September 14, 1859
Closeup of Marker Y-17
Looking west from Marker Y-17
Marker Y-18
SHASTA RIVER
"Started and went 15 miles to Shasta River & campt verry cold nights frost last night not [feeling] any better" - Hinsdale Truman Shepard, September 7, 1852
Closeup of Marker Y-18
Looking southwest toward Marker Y-18
Looking southeast toward Marker Y-18
Marker Y-19
OUR JOURNEYS END
"Today we have landed to our journeys end neare Yreka, whare we stoped to graze our teems ... we exspect to stay here some days to rest for the man that crosses the planes will feel like resting when he gits through" - James Bardin, August 11, 1855
Closeup of Marker Y-19
Looking northwest toward Marker Y-19
Marker Y-20
A MIGHTY TOWN
"Drove into town [Yreka] and a mighty town it is ... several very good brick buildings. ... nothing can be bought here for less than two bits. A loaf of bread that use to cost five cents is 25. Salt 25 per lb." - George McCowen, September 1, 1854
Closeup of Marker Y-20
Marker Y-20 is located in Discovery Park in Yreka, CA