All IOCTA sponsored events, outings, and activities have no cost and are open to everyone. Please join us!
OCTA Calendar
Upcoming 2025 Events
September 20: North Alternate Oregon Trail tour
This is one of the least-known routes in Idaho, but it is the deadliest route in the state. Meet at the rest area south of Hagerman on Highway 30 at 8:45am. Please RSVP with Jerry Eichhorst (
October 25: Fall chapter meeting
This meeting will be in Boise at the Idaho Pizza Company restaurant, where we have met the last few years. Starting time is 11:15am.
Future 2025 events include a marking outing of the Oregon Trail north of Vale, and a North Alternate Oregon Trail tour. Check back for updates.
Cadaver Video
Check out the video from last May when we had a cadaver dog outing to verify some suspected emigrant graves near Durkee, Oregon.
Recent Newsletters
Recent Meeting Minutes
August 9: Three Island Crossing State Park event
Three Island Crossing State Park had a celebration with an America250 theme and also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Oregon Trail History Center. Paul Dinwiddie, IOCTA Vice-President, spoke at the event.
August 23: Special Jeffreys-Goodale Route access
We worked with Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve to see parts of the Jeffreys-Goodale Route that are normally closed.
August 23: Murder/Mystery Dinner
The Idaho State Historical Society hosted a murder/mystery dinner at Stricker Ranch. Details can be found on the ISHS website at history.idaho.gov/event/stricker-western.
June 21: Annual Model A Tour
The Model A car club tour was so fun last year that the club has requested it be an annual event. It is very interesting to see a dozen antique cars traveling the path of the emigrants.
May 15-17: Annual City of Rocks Activities and Spring Meeting
April 19: Annual Byway Tour
This is a caravan tour where everyone drives their own vehicle. We will follow the Oregon Trail from east of Mountain Home to Mayfield.
February 26: Boise Schools Community Education class
Oregon Trail Wyoming to Fort Hall
March 5: Boise Schools Community Education class
Main Oregon Trail Back Country Byway
March 12: Boise Schools Community Education class
North Alternate Oregon Trail
October 12: Fall chapter meeting
Idaho Pizza Company at Overland and Orchard in Boise.
July 21-27: 2024 National Convention
Pendleton, OR
June 28: Cadaver dog grave verification
Jerry Eichhorst led a tour to several emigrant graves north of Mountain Home. A suspected new grave was discovered on the byway tour earlier this year.
June 27: Cadaver dog search for lost grave
Jerry Eichhorst led a tour on the California Trail byway to Goose Creek.
June 26: Drive over Granite Pass
James Dayley led a tour over Granite Pass on the California Trail.
June 1: Model A Car Club Oregon Trail Tour
Jerry Eichhorst will lead a tour of a Model A car club on the Oregon Trail from Bonneville Point to Canyon Creek. Details are available here.
May 16-17: Annual City of Rocks activities
Click here for more information.
May 18: Spring chapter meeting
Burley, ID
April 27: Annual byway tour
Click here for the flyer.
March 13-17: Fall chapter meeting
2024 National Symposium in El Paso, TX.
February-March: Community education classes
Boise, ID. More information is available at BoiseLearns.org
October 14: Fall chapter meeting
The fall chapter meeting will be held at 11:15 am at the Idaho Pizza Company restaurant at Overland and Orchard in Boise. The guest speaker will be John Hiler, Mountain Home area historian.
September 30: Lander Road outing
We will follow the Lander Road on Forest Service and other roads from the Wyoming border to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. This is a trek that the chapter might not have done before. It will likely require spending Friday night in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Soda Springs, or Star Valley, Wyoming, in order to start early in the morning (about 9:00 am). The details and meeting location have not been finalized at this time.
September 25: BSU OSHER Class
Jerry Eichhorst will be teaching a class on the Oregon Trail in Idaho for the BSU OSHER program. If you are a member of OSHER you may have seen this course in their catalog. Contact BSU OSHER for more information. These classes usually sell out within a few days.
August 27: Byway Video outing
The OCTA video master, Richard Hunt, and Jerry Eichhorst will be filming a video of the Main Oregon Trail Back Country Byway. Other members are welcome to follow along if you want to see the entire byway or observe the video creation process.
August 26: Ground penetrating radar outing
A month ago, two cadaver dogs showed strong positive indications of human burials on a small knoll beside the location of a suspected massacre of a wagon train. GPR will be used to scan the top of the knoll to determine if something is indeed buried there.
2023 Convention: Gehring, NE
May 18-20: City of Rocks activities and spring chapter meeting
The annual spring outings with City of Rocks are tentatively scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 18 and 19, with the spring chapter meeting on Saturday, May 20. Additional details will be available soon. We will be trying to get a reduced rate at the Fairfield Inn in Burley.
April 15: Annual spring byway tour with potluck lunch at Springbriar Winery
We will meet at 8:45am between the McDonalds and the Albertsons at Federal Way and Gowen Road. Then we'll caravan from east of Mountain Home to Boise along the Oregon Trail. Lunch at Sweetbrair Winery - $5 per person for burgers and brats. For the potluck, bring a side dish and/or dessert to share. Also bring your own water and drinks, a camera, warm clothing, etc.
March 1, 8, 15: Boise Community Education courses on the Oregon Trail in Idaho
More information is available here.