These towns were the most popular jumping off points for the Trails, and their purpose was to outfit the wagon trains for their long journeys. Trails Head's purpose is the preservation of the remnants of actual trails and sites and the written record left behind by the people who traveled West. Out of purpose comes education, research, promoting public awareness, and publications. As well as mapping and marking the actual trails. Along with the other chapters of OCTA, Trails Head is extremely watchful to the threats of the trail, such as development, highway and road expansion, and vandalism.
Individual groups work with local developers and government agencies to protect the trails.
But when the preservation becomes wider in scope, the national organization works to preserve this unique chapter of American history. Much of Trails Head's primary work involves preserving ruts and sites, marking areas and education. Although a good deal of the work done by local chapters is to mark key sites of the trails, the organization as a whole acknowledges that one day all the evidence of the trails will be gone, blown over by sand. So we also spend a great deal of effort on the written record of the Overland Trek. By preserving that written record, researching it and writing about it, then the trails will remain.