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.