Northwest Chapter - Oregon-California Trails Association

04/03/2026

Kudos to volunteers from OCTA’s Northwest and Idaho chapters!

02/18/2026

NW Chapter OCTA Annual Meeting
March 21, 2026

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
1726 Washington St.
Oregon City, Oregon 97045

9 AM - Arrival and Social Time
10 AM - Meeting begins

Bring your own lunch. Bring a dessert to share, if you wish. Water, Coffee, and Tea will be provided.

A report will be given by Corrine Lowenthal, Executive Director of the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. She will be speaking about the further changes taking place at the Center. Our program will be a discussion of the status of trails and mapping opportunities, led by Dave Welch and others.

Directions from I-205:
From I-205 N and S take exit 10, Oregon 213 S, to Oregon City and
Molalla. In a short distance take a right onto Prairie Schooner Way (a short street). Turn left on to Washington St and turn left into the EOTIC parking lot in approximately 250 feet.

02/08/2025

Watch the video here https://youtu.be/cl3EcNHoM4Q
The Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Rendezvous System was a crucial part of the early 19th-century American frontier, serving as an annual gathering where fur trappers, traders, and Native American communities came together to exchange goods, share information, and celebrate. Organized by fur-trading companies, these rendezvous were held in remote wilderness locations, providing trappers with an opportunity to sell their furs and replenish their supplies. Beyond commerce, these events were lively social occasions filled with music, dancing, storytelling, and competitive games. These gatherings played a significant role in the economic and cultural exchange of the American West, influencing the movement of settlers and shaping interactions between different communities.
In this engaging and informative Zoom lecture, Dr. Jay H. Buckley explores the significance of the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous and the larger fur trade system. Through historical accounts, primary sources, and expert analysis, he delves into the role of the rendezvous in westward expansion, the key figures who participated, and the ways in which these gatherings facilitated the exchange of crucial survival knowledge. Viewers will gain insight into the daily life of trappers and traders, the interactions between Native American nations and fur companies, and the lasting impact of the fur trade on the shaping of the American frontier.
Dr. Jay H. Buckley is an esteemed historian and author specializing in western exploration and early American history. As an associate professor of history at Brigham Young University, the director of BYU’s Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, and a past president of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance, Dr. Buckley brings unparalleled expertise to this topic.

Organized by a fur-trading company, a rendezvous was an annual time for trappers and mountain men to sell furs and hides and replenish supplies. A rendezvous...

01/06/2025

Lethene Parks

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15QstTM2uG/

07/26/2024

https://youtu.be/UnBtr45xK4s

Announcing the 2024 Class of the Oregon California Trails Emigrant Trails Hall of Fame. The Oregon-California Trails Association is the pre-eminent guardian...

02/02/2024

Uncover the historical threads that weave together the rich tapestry of Lander's past, from its early days to the present. Delve into the narratives of the early settlers and the individual after whom the town is dedicated. Randy Wise, the curator of the Fremont County Pioneer Museum, shares these captivating tales in his distinctive manner.

Uncover the historical threads that weave together the rich tapestry of Lander's past, from its early days to the present. Delve into the narratives of the e...

01/26/2024

The route of the Lander Cutoff in western Wyoming was potentially the first trail used as the crossing of the Continental Divide over what is known as South Pass. Join Clint Gilchrist, Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man, near where Native Americans and Pioneers crossed the Little Sandy River and pristine swales still exist today.

The route of the Lander Cutoff in western Wyoming was potentially the first trail used as the crossing of the Continental Divide over what is known as South ...

01/23/2024

The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) and our Southern Trails Chapter are very excited to present the "Spring 2024 Trail Gathering" in El Paso, Texas, from Tuesday, March 12 to Saturday, March 16. We will focus on the historic trails of west Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Chihuahua, as well as the surrounding area, and will include looks at local tribes, early El Paso, military expeditions, the Southern Route to California, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Butterfield Overland Stage, the importance of the Oñate Crossing of the Rio Grande, the railroad, disease, and the Magoffin family.

The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) and our Southern Trails Chapter are very excited to present the "Spring 2024 Trail Gathering" in El Paso, Tex...

01/19/2024

The Spanish outpost of Santa Fe, New Mexico was founded in the early 1600s and the pueblo of Los Angeles, California was founded in 1781. But it was not until 1829 when Santa Fe merchant Antonio Armijo led 60 men and 100 pack mules northward on the trails blazed by native peoples that a suitable land passage between these colonies was established.

The Spanish outpost of Santa Fe, New Mexico was founded in the early 1600s and the pueblo of Los Angeles, California was founded in 1781. But it was not unti...

01/12/2024

Pioneers headed for California and Oregon sought out entertainment around their campfires at night on the way west. Clint Gilchrist, Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man takes us to South Piney Canyon on the Lander Cutoff of the Oregon Trail to share stories of emigrant entertainment including popular music and an impromptu theater troupe that occured in the 1860's.

Pioneers headed for California and Oregon sought out entertainment around their campfires at night on the way west. Clint Gilchrist, Director of the Museum ...

01/09/2024

SNOWBOUND?

A great opportunity to catch up on the OCTA YouTube Library of over 180 trail videos. Check out https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5CyC-R68Izhwvw1f57V-yQ