The Elliott Cutoff was a covered wagon road that branched off the Oregon Trail at the Malheur River where present-day Vale, Oregon, U.S. is today. The first portion of the road was originally known as the Meek Cutoff after Stephen Meek, a former trapper who led over 1,000 emigrants into the Harney Basin in 1845. There were considerable difficulties for the 1845 train and after reaching a hill known as Wagontire, the people left Meek and split into groups. They turned north at the Deschutes River and finally returned to the traditional Oregon Trail near The Dalles, Oregon.
In 1853 another group left the Oregon Trail at Vale Oregon. This emigration was led by Elijah Elliott who followed, with some exceptions, Meek's 1845 route. But instead of turning north at the Deschutes River, Elliott turned south and traveled up the Deschutes River about 30 miles where a newly built trail had been prepared for the wagon train. This new road crossed the Cascades in the Willamette Pass and was known as the Free Emigrant Road. No toll would be collected on this road.
Read more about Elliott Cutoff: History