When you hear the phrase “Trails West” you will probably think instantly of the Oregon Trail. Of course, this trail was the major one heading towards the Pacific, but many other smaller trails of great importance were also formed. One of these was a spur from the Oregon Trail. It is known as the Applegate Trail.
This trail was established in 1846 by a group of men who held the hope that the new route would eliminate many dangers faced along the Columbia River. This group was headed by Jesse Applegate, who had come to Oregon in 1843 with his two brothers and their extended family. In Jesse’s original trip down the Columbia, both he and his brother Lindsay lost a son, and also a mutual friend, Alexander Mac. This tragedy made the three brothers determined to find a safer route to Oregon, so no one else would have to suffer this kind of grief. So in the spring of 1846, it was decided that Charles Applegate would stay home and care for the family and land, while Lindsay and Jesse, along with 11 others, formed the South Road Expedition.
This party left La Creole Creek (now Rickreall) on June 20, 1846. They traveled south to the Willamette Valley through present-day Corvallis and Eugene. Continuing in this direction to just south of Ashland, they turned east, coming to Greensprings Mountain, about where Highway 66 crosses today. The group then traveled across Oregon and Nevada, until they reached the banks of the Humboldt River. Here they followed the river north for about 200 miles until they reached Fort Hall, Idaho.
On August 9, 1846, the South Road Expedition team convinced at least 100 wagons to leave Fort Hall and cross on the newly established “Applegate Trail.” This “easy” way did eliminate the troubles with the Columbia, but it was, however, almost as difficult. “The Modoc and Klamath Indians didn’t attack the wagons, but they ran off the livestock. According to pioneer journals it took 18 to 20 head of oxen to pull a wagon up and over the mountains into Oregon. Now the oxen were dying, weak from a lack of food, stress, and work. The children were hungry and winter was coming. The Umpqua and Calapooya mountains were still ahead. They continued on and the rains came. Wagons bogged down in the mud while they struggled to cross creeks and rivers. They were running out of food. Messengers had been sent ahead so a relief party from Willamette Valley sent by the Applegates arrived with flour and cattle. They were able to continue on. This first train helped fall trees to clear the route, making it easier for the next train. The wagons were worn, and the people were tired, but their spirits were strong.”
Despite this, in the year 1853 alone over 3,500 men, women, and children traveled this route to Oregon. The Applegate Trail is responsible for much of the populating of Oregon. Many well-traveled roads, Interstate 5 and State Road 66, now run along its old coarse. It afforded an alternative way around the Columbia and Barlow Toll Road. It was a trail to dreams and happiness, hopes and new-beginnings; it was the future.
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