What is the oldest pre-Columbian path or road in the United States?

Question

Although I don't know any specific ones, there must be trails made by Native Americans still extant. Can somebody please tell me which the oldest of these is? I would also be interested to know if any modern thoroughfares follow old trails, and which is built over the oldest trail.

I'm not sure that anyone has come up with a definitive answer to this question. If not, please tell me the oldest paths you know of, and we'll see what the oldest we come up with is.

Answer 1

I know of trails from Mexico to the American SW, but all the US is crisscrossed by ancient trails. Many were used to build present day highways. Also, there is the ancient Inca trails from Peru to Argentina, again, you find many roads built on those trails.

Check: http://360.yahoo.com/cristyloo

the article on crossing the Andes

Answer 2

Honestly I have no idea, but I'm sure many of our main roads that have not been changed are based on old trails. Since people lived all across this country, there probably is no one oldest.

A road right by me that goes down hill and crosses a wide creek at the vary spot where it narrows by half or more...have always wondered if it is likely an old trail route where people crossed by foot and horse at the point the creek narrowed...

Answer 3

ROUTE 66

Answer 4

Kingshighway that stretches from St. Louis, Missouri to New Orleans is on a major trade path.  The Anistasi Indians developed very intricate trade routes that can still be seen today.  This was about 4000 years ago.  The trade routes found in Illinois near Mounds Illinois date back 2000 years.

If you drive down Interstate 30 you are following a major trade route.  The American natives got around.

Answer 5

i know there are alot of roads here where i live in michigan that used to be indian trails but i only know of the paths /trails that were 150 years old i dont know how long before that

Answer 6

Most older roads and highways were once trails.  When the settlers came over they hired Indian guides to take them west and of course the Indians took the routes they knew best.  Later the wagon trails were paved with logs, then gravel then blacktop.  There is little history about the old Indian trails that would tell their age but plenty of history about where they are.