{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Nobles Emigrant Trail | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = Nobles Emigrant Trail Plaque.jpg | caption = Plaque marking the site of the Nobles Emigrant Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park | nearest_city = [[Shingletown, California]] | coordinates = {{coord|40|32|50|N|121|25|29|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = California#USA | architect = | architecture = | added = October 3, 1975 | area = {{convert|582|acre}} | refnum = 75000222<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2009a}}</ref> | designated_other1 = California | designated_other1_number = 675<ref name=CHL675>{{cite ohp|675|Noble Emigrant Trail, Susanville|2012-10-07}}</ref> | designated_other2 = California | designated_other2_number = 677<ref name=CHL677>{{cite ohp|677|Noble Emigrant Trail|2012-10-07}}</ref> }} The '''Nobles Emigrant Trail''', also known as the '''Fort Kearney, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road''', is a trail in [[California]] that was used by emigrant parties from the east as a shortened route to northern [[California]]. It was pioneered in 1851 by William Nobles, who discovered an easy shortcut between the [[Applegate Trail]] in [[Nevada]] and the [[Lassen Trail]] in California. The trail was extensively used until the 1870s, when it was superseded by railroads.

==Discovery and establishment== The main trail to California in the 1840s was the [[California Trail]], which followed the [[Humboldt River]] in Nevada, then the [[Truckee River]], and over the [[Donner Pass]] in California. A northern variation was pioneered by the Applegate brothers in 1846, using a more northerly route that connected with destinations in [[Oregon]]. [[Peter Lassen]] established a variant route that passed [[Lassen Peak]] on the way to the [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] area. Lassen scouted the area of [[Honey Lake]] with [[William H. Nobles]] for a legendary "Gold Lake", but having failed, they parted company, with Nobles continuing to the east and accidentally scouting a shorter, easier trail than Lassen's.<ref name=nrhpinv1>{{cite web|last=Chappell|first=Gordon S.|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory&nbsp;— Nomination Form: Nobles' Emigrant Trail|url={{NRHP url|id=75000222}}|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=30 November 2011|date=November 1974}}</ref>

Nobles, born in [[New York (state)|New York]] in 1816, had moved to [[Minnesota]] in 1841 to work as a carpenter, then as a carpenter and wagon-maker. By 1851 he had moved on to California. When Nobles returned to California from his expedition with Lassen, he showed a party of businessmen the route for a fee of $2000. With the subscribers vouching for the usefulness of the {{convert|300|mi|km|adj=on}} route, he returned to Minnesota in 1853 to promote the route, marrying in Illinois along the way. The Minnesota legislature commissioned Nobles to present the route to Congress in Washington. Nobles' efforts persuaded Congress to appropriate $300,000 for an expedition along the route, led by [[Frederick W. Lander]], who prepared a favorable report in February 1861. The route became known as the Fort Kearney, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road. Nobles was elected to the Minnesota Territorial Legislature and died in [[St Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] in 1876.<ref name=nrhpinv1/> The trail was briefly considered for a railroad route. Its popularity contributed to the founding of [[Susanville, California|Susanville]] and [[Redding, California|Redding]].<ref name=lcs1>{{cite web|title=Nobles Emigrant Trail|url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=&PARK=LAVO&STRUCTURE=&SORT=3&RECORDNO=64|work=List of Classified Structures|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=30 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Historic designation== The {{convert|24|mi|km|adj=on}} section of trail within the boundaries of [[Lassen Volcanic National Park]] was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on October 3, 1975.<ref name="nris"/> The section within the park is maintained as a hiking trail.<ref name=nrhpinv1/>

The trail has two [[California Historical Landmark]] markers: #675 marks a stopping place along the Noble Emigrant Trail that William Nobles established near the present-day city of [[Susanville, California|Susanville]],<ref name=CHL675/> while #677 marks the spot where Peter Lassen first saw Honey Lake on October 4, 1850, while on his search for "Gold Lake".<ref name=CHL677/>

==Lassen Volcanic National Park== The trail within the park starts in the northeast corner, passing the edge of the [[Cinder Cone and the Fantastic Lava Beds]], then skirting [[Prospect Peak (California)|Prospect Peak]]. Crossing Badger Flats and passing through the Devastated Area associated with the May 21, 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak. The trail parallels the Lassen Park Road, then passes between the [[Chaos Crags]] and Table Mountain, across Sunflower Flat and over Nobles Pass, following the edge of the [[Chaos Jumbles]]. The trail leaves the northwest corner of the park near [[Manzanita Lake]].<ref name=nrhpinv1/>

==See also== *[[California Historical Landmarks in Lassen County]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{commons category|Nobles Emigrant Trail}}

{{NRHP in Lassen Volcanic NP}} {{National Register of Historic Places}} {{California hiking trails}}

[[Category:Historic trails and roads in California]] [[Category:Hiking trails in California]] [[Category:Roads on the National Register of Historic Places in California]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lassen Volcanic National Park]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lassen County, California]] [[Category:History of Lassen County, California]] [[Category:Protected areas of Shasta County, California]] [[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Shasta County, California]]