The Goodale Grade and Cut-Off
In 1862 sixty wagons under the leadership of Timothy Goodale came down the Goodale Grade into the Upper Payette River Valley. At this time, there was a gold strike on the Burnt River in Oregon and the Goodale Grade was a shortcut from the Boise River to Burnt River. This area became the Goodale Cutoff to the Oregon Trail.
Goodale's Cutoff from Boise Valley to Powder River (ISHS Reference Series 1048)
The Grade is the the narrow ridge coming off the hill that leads down to the right side of the orchard in the picture.
Director-Curator Meg Davis and others have accompanied Oregon Trail locator Jim McGill as he has marked the trail north from the Butte Road, roughly along the Vandussen Road, crossing Willow Creek, up Four-Mile Grade. They have retraced Goodale's route, which followed Indian and pack trails to Brownlee Ferry in Hells Canyon. "Goodale North" Oregon Trail Variant in depth - Oregon-California Trail Assoc..
Trail Marker
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