California Trail Days
Between 1841 and 1869, more than 250,000 pioneers packed their lives into covered wagons and set out on the 2,000-mile journey west. At the California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, California Trail Days brings that history to life with a free, family-friendly celebration of trail-era stories, skills, and survival.
For 2026, special Freedom 250 programming adds even more ways to connect with America’s trail history and the people, places, and stories that shaped the West.
Step into the pioneer experience with wagon rides, reenactments, trail games, and living history at California Trail Days in Elko.
Explore an 1850s wagon encampment, watch pioneer reenactments, hear Chautauqua-style presentations, and see demonstrations that show how travelers cooked, hunted, crafted, and made their way across the country. Hands-on activities invite visitors to play pioneer games, learn about American Indian arts, and experience the history that shaped this stretch of northeastern Nevada.
Kids can get in on the frontier fun with activities like bow and arrow shooting, sack races, and more. With live music, covered wagon rides, and plenty of ways to wander through the past, California Trail Days delivers wagon-loads of history at one of Elko’s most immersive museums.
