This bar was likely formed by the wave action on Lake Lahontan during prehistoric times. Photo by Bob Black.Īfter going about two miles and passing around the west end of modern Humboldt Lake, the trail climbs to the top of the bar and Marker CR-2.

This original section of the Carson Trail forks left from the existing California Trail near the marker and heads south across very sandy soil. After passing over the high-elevation mountains at Carson Pass and West Pass, the emigrants had fairly easy traveling down the extensive, heavily- timbered system of mountain ridges nearly all the way to their final destination, old Hangtown, now modern Placerville. In this valley, the emigrants found abundant forage, water and wood so that they could recruit their livestock for the final push over the nearly impossible mountain passes immediately ahead of them. After crossing back and forth across the river several times in about 7 miles, the trail arrives at Hope Valley. Upon reaching the Sierra, the trail and the river both enter the rugged, rocky, scenic canyon of the Carson River. Upon reaching the river at Ragtown, the trail turns west and generally follows it southwest for about 80 miles through the Carson Valley. At this point, the trail turns southeast from the existing California-Truckee Trail and then passes over extremely dry, barren and sandy country as it heads across the 40 Mile Desert to the Carson River. It starts a short distance north of the Humboldt Bar, a unique geologic feature located at the northeast end of the Humboldt Sink. The Carson Trail crosses a very diverse landscape. However, the emigrants traveled over it from east to west, beginning in 1848, so that is the direction this photo tour travels. This emigrant trail is unique in that it was opened from west to east. Down below, you can take a virtual tour of the Carson Trail using a collection of photos taken along it in years past.

Image map fort carson