Tollgate Maples Latest Inductees into Heritage Tree Program
Near the town of Rhododendron, two bigleaf maple trees stand on each side of the replica tollgate that marks the western-most and last tollgate operated on the Barlow Road - the branch of the Oregon Trail that crossed Mt. Hood. The original tollgate was in operation on this site from 1879 until 1915, and the tollgate maples are believed to have been planted in the 1880's by Daniel Parker who was the tollgate keeper at the time.

The Tollgate Maples will be formally inducted into the Oregon Heritage Tree Program on April 4, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the tollgate historic site in the highway way-side for the Pioneer Bridle Trailhead on US Highway 26 located 1/2 mile east of Rhododendron. Parking will be available in the day use area of Tollgate Campground located between Rhododendron and the tollgate wayside.

Speaking at the dedication event will be Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor of the Mt. Hood National Forest, Lloyd Musser of the Mt. Hood Cultural Center, Cheryl Gribskov, Executive Director of the Oregon Travel Information Council, and Doug Grafe of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee.