Juan Bautista de Anza
National Historic Trail
Welcome!
“¡Vayan Subiendo!”(“Everyone mount up!”) was Juan Bautista de Anza’s rousing call when in 1775, he launched with some 240 men, women, and children an epic journey to establish the first nonnative settlement at San Francisco Bay. Today, the 1,200-mile trail connects history, culture, and outdoor recreation from Nogales, Arizona, to Northern California.
Stories from Juan Bautista de Anza
Experience three central components of the trail that connect history, culture, and outdoor recreation in Arizona and California. The Historic Route, Auto Tour Route, and Recreation Trail each offer something unique to enrich your experience.
Bring the Park Home
Your purchases support the parks. When you can’t get to a national park for a visit, experience it from the comfort of your home. WNPA’s online store is packed with ranger-approved park collectibles, books, toys, and clothing. Shop for a special item to commemorate a trip, share a memory with a nature lover or park enthusiast, or represent your favorite national parks.
Gallery
Explore Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is a 1,200-mile-long trail that tells the complex history of migration and colonization in the American Southwest. Ranging from Nogales, Sonora, to San Francisco, California, the trail traces part of the route followed by Anza between 1775 and 1776. Anza forged crucial alliances with several American Indian tribes, nations, and clans—the O’odham and the Chumash provided vital food, and a Quechan clan helped the families across the river. The Anza expedition traveled through the lands of the O’odham, Quechan, Ohlone, Tongva, and more. The many sites of historical significance along the trail include Saguaro National Park and the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Descendants of the Anza Expedition gather in San Francisco every year to honor their ancestors at an annual celebration of heritage, culture, and history.
WNPA has provided more than
$147 million
in aid to our partner parks to fund educational programs, initiatives, and scientific research
Kids in Parks
National parks are places where kids can dream up great adventures! Taking in amazing scenery. Testing out new skills. Exploring places kids may have only heard about. But most importantly, creating new memories with friends and family.
Stories from all parks
Our public lands are our public commons. They belong to all of us as part of our natural and cultural heritage. They remind us of a larger world that has existed long before the arrival of humans and will survive long after we are gone. –Terry Tempest Williams, Author & Conservationist
