After Oregon Trail pioneers arrived in the Dalles Oregon, they had to make some tough decisions. They had to decide whether or not to press on and cross the Cascade Mountains to the fertile Willamette Valley, and if so, how best to make that trip. Travel on the Columbia was treacherous, and loss of life was high due to the rapids at the Dalles and Cascade Locks. They knew that if only they could somehow carve a shortcut across Mt. Hood, they might shorten the journey and bypass the Columbia River passage all together.

The Barlow Trail was carved in the slopes of Mt. Hood. Traces of the original trail can still be seen today. A commemorative rock is located in Government Camp, and an Interpretive Center is available to shed some light on this important route.