View Full Version : Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
Peakhunter
11-08-2012, 22:21
Has anyone hiked it? If so tell us about it!
The actual length of the entire trail is around 2,200 miles; however, most Native Americans walked an average of 1,000-1,500 miles. The trail ran through 9 states. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/trte/index.htm
It is amazing to think that anyone survived a forced march with minimal supplies on this trail. Our First Nations are tough people, and this country treated them atrociously.
I didn't realize that it was a hiking trail. I thought it was a road trail, much like the Lewis and Clark. Will check it out... my ancesters took the trip first into Missouri and eventually ended up in "Indian Territory" in what would become Muscogee, Oklahoma.
According to the NPS website there are 5 different routes through 9 different states. Not sure how much hiking is involved, but checking it out...
This website is called "How to Hike the Trail of Tears" http://www.ehow.com/how_2089451_hike-trail-tears.html
You need permission to hike the whole thing as it goes through private lands...
WingedMonkey
11-09-2012, 09:42
Or you could paddle it:
http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/19788468/article-Paddling-the-Trail-of-Tears?instance=home_special
In 2011 (from Jan to April) Ron Cooper, a Comanche from Oklahoma, hike 833 miles from outside Chattanooga to Oklahoma. A woman did it a few months later pulling a cart. They are the only two I could find by googling... It is mostly road walk with a number of major highways.
Peakhunter
11-10-2012, 00:49
In 2011 (from Jan to April) Ron Cooper, a Comanche from Oklahoma, hike 833 miles from outside Chattanooga to Oklahoma. A woman did it a few months later pulling a cart. They are the only two I could find by googling... It is mostly road walk with a number of major highways.
It must have been one heck of a trail before the roads though!
starbright
11-10-2012, 04:31
I live in Wynne, Arkansas and every year Village Creek State Park has programs about the trail of tears because of the part that crosses the Park. The tracks are still there where the wagon wheels left groves in the ground. I have hiked parts of the trail of tears but long from all of it. It's something I want to complete someday because my ancestors walked it. My Great Great-Grand mother was one of the first baby's born on the Res in Oklahoma.