Woodland Trails

Native American Indians can be credited with determining the route of many of today's roadways. Prior to using pack animals, Indians followed the paths of the animals they hunted. These footpaths were often seasonal routes as the Indians would follow the migratory patterns of the animals they depended upon for survival. By creating a path of least resistance, and crossing waters at the shallowest point, a network of trails, hundreds of miles long, developed that would also connect villages and be used extensively by French and English fur traders. Many of these trails would eventually be widened to accomodate settlers traveling in wagons or by stagecoach. From original walking paths to "wagon trails," these routes were so systematically planned by the Indians that some were paved to become a major country road or one of today's modern highways. Many of these historic Indian trails have survived development and can still be experienced at state and national parks throughout the country.