Old Spanish Trail: Los Angeles Itinerary

Located at the western end of the Old Spanish Trail, El Pueblo de los Angeles Historical Monument offers a glimpse of the early history of one of America's largest cities.

An important stopping point at the western end of the Old Spanish Trail, Mission San Gabriel holds the keys to understanding interactions between Europeans, Anglo Americans, and Indigenous people in the Los Angeles area.

The oldest home in the Montebello area, the Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe is a testament to the impact of settlers who arrived via the Old Spanish Trail. The adobe's clearest connection to the Old Spanish Trail is through William Workman. He was co-leader of the Rowland-Workman party, a group of Anglo Americans and New Mexicans who migrated to California on the Old Spanish Trail in 1841.

Cajon Pass is a mountain pass between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains and the route of the Old Spanish Trail. This important box canyon has been used by thousands of years as a passage from the Mojave Desert to the Los Angeles Basin. It is currently grouped with Cajon Summit to describe the area where a vital artery of the California interstate system, Interstate 15, descends into Los Angeles, after traveling east from Las Vegas.

The Mojave Road, through Mojave National Preserve, is considered a branch of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert.