9th Emigrant Trail Adventure 2026

Included: 

• Wednesday night group dinner reception
• Private Jeep Jamboree Trail Guide team to accompany group 
• Open-itinerary exploration of the region

Description

In the mid-1800s, the enticement of free land and reports of “gold for the taking” brought a flood of humanity across the Great Plains to the West. It was an arduous 6-month journey that required crossing the vast and foreboding deserts of Nevada, and weary settlers were eager to find the easiest path to the California gold fields.

Join us for an epic adventure as we retrace one of the most infamous of these routes, the Applegate-Lassen Trail—later known as The Death Trail. We’ll cross the Black Rock Desert and thread our way through High Rock Canyon, visiting natural hot springs, pioneer petroglyphs, and little-known sites such as Murder Rock.

This will be an open-itinerary exploration of the region, setting camp at dusk as the pioneers did, moving on when the sun comes up after a hot cup of joe from the chuck wagon.

Trip Itinerary

* Dinner included on Wednesday night in Winnemucca. Thursday to Sunday you are responsible for all of your own meals and camping gear.

Wednesday, September 16th – Meet in Winnemucca, Nevada. Join us in a casual setting for a dinner reception at Dos Amigos Mexican Restaurant. We’ll get to know each other and discuss the days to come. Be sure to book a hotel or campground for Wednesday night.

Thursday, September 17th – After a quick drivers meeting, we have a short highway drive before hitting the dirt for several days. The first day of the Adventure takes us to places like Antelope Springs, Rabbit Hole Springs and the world-famous Black Rock Desert. Our destination is Black Rock Springs where we will set up camp for the night. Bring a swimsuit as there will be an opportunity to bathe in the natural hot spring

Friday, September 18th – As we continue along this historic route, we will experience places such as Double Hot Springs, Hardin City, and Murder Rock. There are exciting stories to all these locations which will channel your inner historian! We will eventually make camp at Soldier Meadows, where again there will be an opportunity to dip into natural hot springs right at camp.

Saturday, September 19th – Our third day of travel takes us through the stunning Fly and High Rock Canyons as we continue along the route thousands of settlers took so long ago. Photography opportunities abound, and you’ll be able to fill your pockets with Obsidian too! We will reach the town of Gerlach this afternoon, where you will have the choice to start your travels home, or remain with the group for another night of camping in Smoke Creek Canyon.

Sunday, September 20th – We will enjoy our final morning together beneath a grove of Cottonwood Trees. It is a leisurely day as we drive around the beautiful Pyramid Lake on the way back to Reno, where our adventure will come to a close.