To ensure that visitors are prepared for a visit to the California Trail Interpretive Center (CTIC), please review the following information prior to your arrival or booking a field trip.

Fees & Admission

Admission to the California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada is free. All programs are free. The Center is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is supported through a combination of federal funding, public donations, non-profit partnerships, and grants.

Open To The Public

You do not need to register or RSVP for general entry or most of the California Trail Interpretive Center’s programs—these are open to the public and offered on a walk-in basis. However, if you have a large group (such as a school or community organization) or if you are planning a special event, it’s necessary to coordinate with us.

Food

The California Trail Interpretive Center is able to accommodate outdoor space for brown-bagged lunches. Food is not available at or around The Center.

Indoors

There are multiple exhibits and things to see indoors at the California Trail Center. The building is climate-controlled, making it a comfortable retreat if temperatures outside are too hot or cold. You’ll also find indoor restrooms, ensuring that you can explore the center at your leisure. Interactive displays, life-size dioramas, and multimedia presentations bring the history of westward expansion to life.

Our knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer questions and provide deeper insight. Whether you’re seeking shelter from extreme weather or simply prefer an indoor experience, you can easily spend hours discovering the stories, artifacts, and engaging educational programs that the Trail Center offers.

Outdoors

During summer months, enjoy our Wagon Encampment and Shoshone Village and trail system. Visitors get the chance to experience camp life on the California Trail. Additionally, year round, visitors can explore our ADA compliant trail system and to-scale-map on our Plaza.

Weather

Elko, Nevada does experience extreme temperatures, with very hot summers and cold winters. Be sure to dress appropriately and stay with your group for safety when exploring outdoors. Please have children dress for the weather; coats, sweaters, hats and/or raincoats may be necessary on any day, at any time of the year. Safe footwear is necessary for the trails.

Accessibility (ADA)

The California Trail Interpretive Center, bathrooms, and trails are ADA compliant. There are curb cutouts in the entry drive in front of the visitor center. Wheel chairs are also available.