Of the 2170 miles of the Oregon Trail, approximately 300 miles of ruts remain. Swales created by thousands of wagon wheels and the trampling of draft animals are deep in some areas and shallow in others. Much of the trail has disappeared because of natural erosion and the development of farms, highways, cities, and towns. In some places, the Oregon Trail, generally called Emigrant Road in the 19th century, was later used by automobiles. The route followed the easiest grades wherever possible. Here it came from the southeast across Virtue Flat and headed northwest toward Baker Valley and the divide in the low hills to the north. Wherever level open ground permitted, wagons spread out rather than follow single file. Three sets of ruts pass through this segment, although the second and third sets are very faint.