First Wagons on the Old Spanish Trail - Enoch, UT - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

The Old Spanish Trail is a historical trade route that connected Santa Fe, New Mexico with Los Angeles, California and southern California. Approximately 700 miles long, the trail ran through areas of high mountains, arid deserts, and deep canyons. The city of Enoch is on the Old Spanish Trail, and the first wagons to arrive in Iron County did so on May 15, 1848. In the fall of that year fifty wagons went west to California. This sign, created by the Boy Scouts on the 100th anniversary of that date, gives some history about these events.

Road of Trail Name: Old Spanish Trail State: Utah County: Iron Historical Significance: This trail was primarily a trade route between California and New Mexico. The terrain between the two is rugged, and this trail was the first to allow reasonably large wagon trains to make the trip. The trail was also used for immigration. Years in use: 20 How you discovered it: Growing up in the Midwest, you learn a lot about these historic trails. Book on Wagon Road or Trial: "Old Spanish Trail" by Leroy and Ann Hafen, 978-0803272613 Website Explination: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Spanish_Trail_%28trade_route%29 Why?: This trail was primarily a trade route; California had a surplus of horses and mules, and no textile industry to speak of. Thus, California was a good market for woven goods such as Indian blankets. Wagon trains loaded with such would travel westward to California, usually in the late fall to take advantage of winter rains, sell their goods, and return in the spring with thousands of horses and mules. The going price for a horse was two blankets; a hardier mule went for three. Directions: 4763 Santa Fe Trail, Enoch, Utah

Visit Instructions:
To post a log for this Waymark the poster must have a picture of either themselves, GPSr, or mascot. People in the picture with information about the waymark are preferred. If the waymarker can not be in the picture a picture of their GPSr or mascot will qualify. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.