Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail…People from all walks of life, farmers, doctors, merchants, schoolteachers, blacksmiths, were lured to the adventure of the Oregon country. Opportunities were endless, provided a family could endure the hardships of disease, weather and even death.

It was a known factor that death was a reality on the Trail yet people were willing to accept that challenge. Families had their young children die in their arms. That in itself would be one of the greatest hardships encountered.

Interactive Oregon Trail Game…We like the computer game because it gives some real life examples that people went through. Click on the image to your right to get all of the details. It’s great family fun and full of learning.

Great Migration…

The Trail, also known as the "Great Migration" began in 1843. 1000 pioneers assembled with 120 wagons and 5000 head of livestock left Independence Missouri for a greater life out west. This was the largest peacetime migration in the history of the world.

These early pioneers were not well equipped to handle the harsh environment the trail of Oregon provided. They were driven by a dream and risked all of their possessions to accomplish that dream. There was an average of 1 out of 10 pioneers who died along the trail. Some pioneers gave up and returned; however, most continued the journey in spite of the odds. This massive overland migration of people, livestock and wagons continued for another thirty years.

There were several routes that left the Missouri River to gain access to the Northwest; however, those routes all emerged to Oregon City. The official ending of the Trail. From here pioneers could head northward to the now Washington area or further south to southern Oregon.

Some of the popular routes included the Barlow Road. It passed the southern part of The Dalles going by Mt. Hood and Timberline Road. Another route, the Applegate Trail went across the southern Oregon Cascade Mountains crossing today’s Grants Pass, through Medford and Klamath Falls. This trail open in 1846, not that long ago when compared to Europe’s historical events.

Pioneers were always searching out new routes to gain access into areas and cut the travel time. In 1854 after 9-years of searching for a route from the Malheur River crossing the Oregon’s desert to Eugene, the Meek-Elliott-Marcy route was made. Travelers had a new opportunity as newer and better routes were developed. Similar to today’s roads. Before our national freeway system of interstates we were succumbed to driving state highways, at slower speeds.

Over the 30-years of travel on the Trail, 300,000 people made the journey from 1840-1860. They are the one’s who put the Northwest on the map, enduring the hardships to make a better life and we now are reaping the benefits.

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center…

To get the most from the Trail, we recommend that you head over to Oregon City and visit the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Give them a call at 503-657-9336 for the latest information.

Do you know of any other Trail Games or other interesting facts about the Trail that you'd like to share with other readers? Please Contact Us.

Enjoy the Trail,

The Staff

Northwest Travel Tips