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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Early Freighting was Often a Hazardous Occupation |
Early freighters of Central Oregon were hardy men
that managed slow plodding horse or mule teams over
narrow, dusty, muddy and sometimes hazardous
roads. Freight to Central Oregon came by two main
routes. Shipments arrived either from the Willamette
Valley over the Santiam Wagon Road or from The
Dalles along parts of The Dalles to Canyon City wagon
road. When the Columbia Southern rail line was built
from the Columbia River to Shaniko in 1900 most
freight shipments were to and from the rail terminus at
Shaniko.
that managed slow plodding horse or mule teams over
narrow, dusty, muddy and sometimes hazardous
roads. Freight to Central Oregon came by two main
routes. Shipments arrived either from the Willamette
Valley over the Santiam Wagon Road or from The
Dalles along parts of The Dalles to Canyon City wagon
road. When the Columbia Southern rail line was built
from the Columbia River to Shaniko in 1900 most
freight shipments were to and from the rail terminus at
Shaniko.
The first roads were not much better that cow paths and passages down canyons were often steep
and dangerous. During the dry season the roads were thick with dust and loose material. Cow
Canyon grade descending down from Shaniko Flats to Trout Creek frequently had mishaps as rolling
rocks or rattlesnakes would spook the horses and off they would gallop. There were recorded
instances of freighters being killed by wagons overturning as horses raced out of control down the
narrow road bank which was often only a few inches wider than the wheel base of the wagons.
During the wet season travel was particularly strenuous and hazardous. One old time freighter
recalled that during a very wet storm he had to pave the roadway with part of his shipment of wool
to get the wagons over the ruts and muddy bogs. It also was related that returning freight from The
Dalles often included heavy bags of beans bound for Prineville. When a heavily laden wagon
became bogged down in the mud the freighters would off load bags of beans to lighten the load and
use the beans to fill the ruts. Later in the year plants would sprout from the beans in the ruts and it
was a common site to see lines of beans growing along the road.
Other trouble spots along early wagon roads included the grade from Antelope to Shaniko, over
Grizzly Mountain pass from Hay Creek to Prineville, and Trail Crossing on Crooked River near
Crooked River Gorge.
It was also exciting times when wagons traveling in opposite directions met on the narrow canyon
roads. Lead horses were often outfitted with bells to signal to other wagons that they were
approaching.
Freighters often spent several nights under the stars as they brought their shipments to and from
Central Oregon. They had to weather storms and drought and negotiate road hazards but they
were critical to supplying the interior of Oregon with necessary goods.
and dangerous. During the dry season the roads were thick with dust and loose material. Cow
Canyon grade descending down from Shaniko Flats to Trout Creek frequently had mishaps as rolling
rocks or rattlesnakes would spook the horses and off they would gallop. There were recorded
instances of freighters being killed by wagons overturning as horses raced out of control down the
narrow road bank which was often only a few inches wider than the wheel base of the wagons.
During the wet season travel was particularly strenuous and hazardous. One old time freighter
recalled that during a very wet storm he had to pave the roadway with part of his shipment of wool
to get the wagons over the ruts and muddy bogs. It also was related that returning freight from The
Dalles often included heavy bags of beans bound for Prineville. When a heavily laden wagon
became bogged down in the mud the freighters would off load bags of beans to lighten the load and
use the beans to fill the ruts. Later in the year plants would sprout from the beans in the ruts and it
was a common site to see lines of beans growing along the road.
Other trouble spots along early wagon roads included the grade from Antelope to Shaniko, over
Grizzly Mountain pass from Hay Creek to Prineville, and Trail Crossing on Crooked River near
Crooked River Gorge.
It was also exciting times when wagons traveling in opposite directions met on the narrow canyon
roads. Lead horses were often outfitted with bells to signal to other wagons that they were
approaching.
Freighters often spent several nights under the stars as they brought their shipments to and from
Central Oregon. They had to weather storms and drought and negotiate road hazards but they
were critical to supplying the interior of Oregon with necessary goods.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
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local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.