Ruts of the Oregon Trail
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 44° 48.493 W 117° 43.909
11T E 442129 N 4961906
History Sign about Ruts of the Oregon Trail, east of Baker, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WM2GP9
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 10/31/2007
Views: 33
This sign is located along Hwy 86 about 5 miles northeast of Baker, Oregon.
Marker Name: Ruts of the Oregon Trail
Marker Text: Of the 2170 miles of the Oregon Trail, approximately 300 miles of ruts remain. Swales created by thousands of wagon wheels and the trampling of draft animals are deep in some areas, shallow in other places. Much of the trail has disappeared due to natural erosion, and development of farms, highways, cities and towns. In some places, the Oregon Trail, or Emigrant Road as it was generally called in the 19th century, was later used by automobiles.
The Oregon Trail route followed the easiest grades wherever possible. Here the trail came from the southeast across Virtue Flat. It headed northwest towards Baker Valley and the divide in the low hills to the north. In any place where level open ground permitted, wagons spread out rather than follow single file. There are three sets of ruts through this segment, however the second and third sets are very faint.
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