The previous post was all about the various National Parks, National Monuments, National Forests, and National Grasslands that the Great Plains Trail (GPT) will pass through. In addition to those area of national interest, the GPT will also cross no fewer than six National Historic Trails. These “trails” are usually not really trails at all (except in some places), but they are there to mark the path where a significant journey (or journeys) in the nation’s history took place. See the links below for more information on them.
In the north, along the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, the GPT will cross the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
Further south, at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, the GPT crosses no fewer than four National Historic Trails: the Oregon National Historic Trail, the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, the California National Historic Trail, and the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
In southern Colorado as well as New Mexico, the GPT will also cross the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
If you’re keeping track, we can add these six National Historic Trails to the 16 National Parks and National Monuments etc. mentioned earlier for a current total (there will be more . . . ) of 22 places of national interest that the GPT will directly connect with. It’s starting to look like a pretty impressive list!
