 McCloud's improvements were an upgrade to an earlier and rougher version of what became known as the Siskiyou Trail.By 1860, mule train and later stagecoach traffic between California's Central Valley, Yreka, California and Oregon had increased, and the McClouds (and their business partner Isaac Fry) built and operated a toll bridge over the Sacramento River at Upper Soda Springs, as well as increasing the size of the inn.In particular, travelers came to enjoy the "soda water" at the Upper Soda Springs site.