by Susan Couso
During the winter of 1846-47, the Donner Party members, who were trapped in the snow in the high Sierras near today’s Donner Lake, suffered terribly. When the stories emerged of starvation, sickness and cannibalism, it pretty much deterred any future emigrants from taking that perilous route through the mountains to California. Even today, Donner Pass, on Interstate 80, is often closed because of snowy conditions.
But California was up for grabs, a beautiful fertile state where gold was there, just for the taking, and opportunities abounded.
Year after year, the emigrants continued to try to reach this ‘promised land’, and new passages were carved out through the deserts and mountains to access California’s bounties.
In 1848, Peter Lassen began leading emigrants through his trail, and it soon became known as one of the worst, being longer and much more difficult to travel.
Many people suffered greatly, and Lassen’s Trail was no longer used to any great extent after 1851. About this time, William H. Nobles ‘discovered’ what was to be the easiest, safest, and fastest way to get through the northern route to California.
Nobles was a prominent businessman, well known back in Minnesota. He came west and found a path to California that was, arguably, the best way to go.
The Nobles trail veered off the Applegate Trail near Black Rock Springs, in what is now Nevada, and eventually ended up in the Sacramento Valley, the heart of the gold fields.
Nobles approached the businessmen of Shasta City in 1852 and offered to show them the new route for $2,000. If they didn’t like his trail, he would refund the money. The businessmen were pleased, and Nobles took his pay and returned to Minnesota.
The new route funneled emigrants to the Shasta City area where they could spend their money to the delight of the local businessmen.
As the Nobles trail came out of the desert, it came into California and through the hills above, and to the north, of Honey Lake. This first view must have thrilled the tired emigrants. Then, roughly following the Susan River, named after Nobles’ wife, Susan, it snaked its way west.
As the emigrants reached what is now Susanville, they rested and refreshed their livestock in the area of today’s Memorial Park, spreading out toward the riverbanks. Then, passing beside Roop’s Fort (built in 1854 as a trading post), they went on up the hill, approximately following where Nevada Street and North Pine Street are now, and then on out of town.
From Susanville, west, the trail was pretty easy traveling. They still mainly followed the river, and, when they reached Feather Lakes, along what is now Highway 44, they shared the trail with the Lassen Trail for several miles.
The Lassen Trail was headed south, to end at Peter Lassen’s place near Vina, but the Nobles trail continued west. It skirted the north side of what is now Lassen Park, and ended up in Shasta City, near today’s Redding. From Shasta City, travel was easy in any direction, but most emigrants headed for John Sutter’s New Helvetia, which later became Sacramento.
William Nobles made travel safer and easier for thousands of people and is mostly forgotten today.
If you are a fan of our weekly history stories you should join the Lassen County Historical Society! It’s a fun way to be a part of our county’s rich history. When you sign up, you’ll receive regular Historical Society newsletters with interesting stories and information. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in area history.
Through your membership you help preserve local history. You can download a membership application by clicking here.
