Trails along the Canadian River are not a new idea. The use of trails along the Canadian River are older than recorded history. In 1541, the trails were used for trade, exploration, and hunting by Coronado. In 1840, it was a route for Josiah Gregg and 34 men from Missouri. They carried goods with $25,000 that were intended for trade in Santa Fe. In 1849, it was used by the U.S. Army Captain R.B. Marcy to escort parities to the California gold rush. In the 1870s and 1880s, the trails were used by hunters, cattlemen, and settlers as the panhandle opened to civilization. The Canadian River's name came from Spanish for "boxed-in".
- Summarized from historical marker #697 (State Historical Survey Committee)