<P> The history of these trails and the pioneers who traveled them have since become deeply embedded in the culture and folklore of the United States as some of the most significant influences to shape the content and character of the nation . The remains of many trail ruts can still be observed in various locations throughout the American West . Travelers may loosely follow various routes of the emigrant trails on modern highways through the use of byway signs across the western states . </P> <P> Travelers across what became the Western United States in the 19th century had the choice of several routes . Some of the earliest were those of the Mexicans in the southwest . American trade with Northern Mexico created the Santa Fe Trail between St. Louis and Santa Fe following an 18th - century route pioneered by the Spanish Empire . From Santa Fe, American traders followed the old El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro southward to Chihuahua by way of El Paso del Norte . The Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe, in Mexican New Mexico Territory to Los Angeles, in Mexican Alta California, developed in 1829 - 1830 to support the trade of New Mexican wool products for California horses and mules and carried parties of fur traders and emigrants from New Mexico to Southern California . </P> <P> Following the trails pioneered by fur traders, the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri to the Oregon Territory developed crossing the central Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and northern Great Basin . Branching off from that route, some settlers traveled southwestward on the California Trail from Fort Hall, Oregon Territory to Sutters Fort, in Mexican Alta California . Also branching off to the south was the Mormon Trail from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory . During the twenty - five years 1841--1866, 250,000 to 650,000 people "pulled up stakes," and headed west along these trails . About one - third immigrated to Oregon, one - third to California and one - third to Utah, Colorado, and Montana . </P> <P> Although it is often stated that the Northern trails began in certain cities on the Missouri River, emigrants following any of the three trails typically left from one of three "jumping off" points on the Missouri's steamboat serviced river ports: Independence, Missouri or Saint Joseph, Missouri, or Council Bluffs, Iowa . (Once known as Kanesville, Iowa until 1852; after river dredging in the early 1850s, the latter town at the Missouri - Platte confluence became the most common departure point since it was close in proximity to the River Platte--along which the eastern trails ascend to South Pass above Fort Laramie.) The trails from these cities (and several others) converged in the mostly empty flatlands of central Nebraska near present - day Kearney, in the vicinity of Fort Kearney . From their confluence there the combined trails followed in succession the Platte, North Platte, and Sweetwater rivers westward across the full widths of Nebraska and Wyoming, and crossed the continental divide south of the Wind River Range through South Pass in southwestern Wyoming . </P>

What two overland trails were commonly used by settlers during the westward migration