The Barlow Road is a branch of the Oregon Trail. Opened in 1846 by Sam Barlow and Philip Foster after authorization by Oregon's provisional Legislature, it stretched 100 miles from Tygh Valley to Eagle Creek.
Its construction allowed covered wagons and livestock to avoid the expensive and perilous float trip down the Columbia River from The Dalles by going up and over the Cascades to the Willamette Valley.
During the Barlow Road's first season of operation -- at an authorized toll of $5 per wagon and 10 cents for each head of livestock -- Barlow recorded more than 1,000 people, 150 wagons and 2,800 animals using the road.
Barlow's concession expired in 1848 and he ended his partnership with Foster. During the next 60 years the toll concession was sold several times and moved slowly west, ending in 1879 just east of Rhododendron.
The city of Wamic is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Wasco County, Oregon. Wamic was named for the Womack family, which settled the area.
A post office was established at Wamic in 1884 and it closed in 1958. The population was 36 at the 2000 census.
