The national trail commemorates the route followed by a Spanish commander, Juan Bautista de Anza, in 1775-76 when he led a contingent of 30 soldiers and their families to found a presidio and mission near the San Francisco Bay.

Along the trail route, the visitor can experience the varied landscapes similar to those the expedition saw; learn the stories of the expedition, its members, and descendants; better understand the American Indian role in the expedition and the diversity of their cultures; and appreciate the extent of the effects of Spanish colonial settlement of Arizona and California.

 Directions 

Plane - Traveler can access trail heads by flying commercial carriers to San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles in California or to Tucson in Arizona.

Car - Recently, the California portions of the trail have been marked for for those traveling the trail by highway. The Arizona segments will be marked as well in the next few months. You can obtain a roadguide by contacting the park office. General guidebooks for national trails: Miller, Arthur P. and Marjorie. Trails Across America. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, Colorado. 1996. Cordes, Kathleen Ann. America's National Historic Trails. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 1999