{"nrhp_refnum":"92000854","name":"Michigan Bluff-Last Chance Trail","other_names":[],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"From Michigan Bluff NE to Last Chance","address_restricted":false,"city":"Michigan Bluff","county":"Placer County","state":"CA","lat":39.060891877000046,"lon":-120.70823185395251,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1992-06-26","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Engineering","Transportation","Exploration/Settlement"],"significance_levels":["state","local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A historic dirt and rock trail in Placer County, California, linking the Gold Rush mining towns of Michigan Bluff, Deadwood and Last Chance across the El Dorado Creek and North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River canyons. It dates from the early 1850s and is still actively used.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the trail was a vital supply route for remote mining camps, carrying mule pack-trains by 1850-53 and cutting travel time to Deadwood and Last Chance. It is significant under Criteria A and C for exploration and settlement, engineering, transportation and commerce, as an example of vernacular engineering. Part of it was a toll trail, indicating investment expected to pay off.","narrative":"A switchback trail of dirt and rock connects the former mining towns of Michigan Bluff, Deadwood and Last Chance in Placer County, California. It descends about 1,900 feet into El Dorado Canyon, climbs 2,000 feet over Deadwood Ridge, then drops into the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River canyon before rising to Last Chance. Measured distances run about 6 miles from Michigan Bluff to Deadwood and roughly 4.5 miles from Devils Basin to Last Chance. Pack-trains of mules carried food, tools and other supplies along it as early as 1850, and by 1852-53 it was in full use, shortening travel to the camps. The Michigan Bluff to Deadwood section operated as a toll trail. Mining remains such as the Rainbow Land and Pacific mines lie along the route. The trail was recognized for its role in exploration, settlement, engineering, transportation and commerce between 1850 and 1939, and it forms part of the longer Western States Trail.","period_of_significance":"1850 - 1939","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Vernacular Engineering","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Described as an actively used trail; the current function is listed as transportation, pedestrian related.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:27.401742-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/92000854.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123860402","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/placer-county/michigan-bluff-last-chance-trail-92000854/"}