Featured image: Salmon River Pioneer Crossing
In 1843 thousands upon thousands of emigrants set off for Oregon Territory with the promise of a new life in Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley. Time for you to hit the highway, inspire your own pioneer spirit, stand in the actual wagon ruts pioneers left behind, and visit the numerous interpretive sites, monuments and cultural centers along the way.
The Oregon Trail traversed 2,170 miles of what today is Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. Travel the Oregon National Historic Trail through Oregon, from Idaho, along the Columbia River and around Mt Hood.
The cemeteries along the route reveal so many Oregon Trail stories: where the emigrants came from, how they lived, and died, as they headed for Oregon and the awaited promises. And I can attest, for all you geocachers, almost everyone has a cache to discover.
The last hurdle for emigrants on the Oregon Trail was the Cascade Range. Early pioneers either had to barge down the treacherous Columbia River, make their home in The Dalles, or travel the Barlow Road through the Cascades along the south side of Mt Hood. We’ve explored quite a few Oregon Trail sights in The Gorge and around our Mountain and look forward to pointing you in the right direction to find them on your own.
There are several accessible, still-visible Oregon Trail / Barlow Road sites in the Mount Hood National Forest and what’s special is that many of them still look much like they did in the 1840s, with wagon ruts, narrow cuts, and forest corridors.
Discover the Historic Oregon Trail – Follow the steps of pioneers on the historic Barlow Road and see a replica of the old tollgate between mileposts 44 and 45 in Rhododendron. This is where pioneers had to pay $5 to cross. You’ll can also see the Laurel Hill Chute, a vertical area where settlers lowered their wagons and their belongings, and the grandmas, everything, down into the canyon below. The Salmon River crossing, featured image, is a bit harder to locate but I can help.
Barlow Pass – One of the most important and easiest-to-visit sites
- Highest point on the historic Barlow Road (about 4,160 ft)
- Trailhead with interpretive signs and parking
- The original road actually crosses right through the parking area
- Junction with the Pacific Crest Trail
Pioneer Woman’s Grave – emotional historic site
- just off of Hwy 35 on Forest Road 3531
- Memorial to a woman who died just 50 miles from the Willamette Valley
Barlow Road (Forest Road 3530) – Drive or hike the actual roadbed
- Large portions of the original route are still used as forest roads
- Salmon River Pioneer Crossing
- Narrow “ditch-like” cuts carved by wagons
- The road retains a rugged, original feel in many places
- You’re often literally traveling on top of the Oregon Trail.
- PSA for geocachers – there is a series of caches
Barlow Trail #601A – Best preserved “trail-like” segment
- Connects Still Creek Campground to Government Camp
- Primitive, rocky, and intentionally left rough
- Shows what wagon travel looked like in the 1850s
- Includes remnants of early 20th-century resort ruins nearby
What makes this stretch special
- The Barlow Road was the final overland leg of the Oregon Trail, built in 1845–46
- It allowed wagons to avoid the dangerous Columbia River route
- It’s considered one of the most difficult sections of the entire trail
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum reveals the cataclysmic floods that helped shape the Columbia River Gorge. Here also you’ll experience interactive exhibits of the Lewis and Clark expedition, The Oregon Trail and 10,000 years of Native American life in the Gorge.
Thank you for trusting us to be your home away from home. We’ve posted our Hospitality and Health Policy on our website. Purchase a gift certificate for yourself or someone you know would enjoy time at the Old Parkdale Inn.
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We’re your home base for exploring and enjoying the Hood River Valley and beyond. After a full day, you’ll love the peace and tranquility of the Old Parkdale Inn. Relax in the gardens, perhaps with your favorite beverage, by the bonfire, roast some s’mores, weather permitting of course.
What’s to do
The Hood River Fruit Loop is located in the beautiful Hood River Valley at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood offering you a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Many outdoor adventures, such as kayaking, windsurfing, skiing, snow boarding, and hiking, await. Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, and Timberline Ski areas are only a short drive away, as is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest where trails and wildlife abound.
Book your stay at the Old Parkdale Inn and take advantage of our partnerships:
Wet Planet Whitewater Adventures – A 10% discount will be applied at checkout when you use the code we provide to book online.
Cascade Canyon Guide – request code for 10% off trips
