Introduction
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail commemorates the route taken by Anza in 1775-76 when he led a group of colonists from what is now Horcasitas, Sonora, Mexico to found a presidio and mission for New Spain at San Francisco Bay. In addition, Anza explored the east side of San Francisco Bay before returning to Monterey and eventually to Mexico.

Public interest in the trail was stimulated during the 1975-76 bicentennial when the Anza trek was reenacted following the journals of the expedition to the day and the hour for the entire 1200-mile route. This reenactment was organized by the bicentennial committees of each state and Mexico, and the committees within each county. George Cardinet, Director of Heritage Trails Fund (HTF), organized the equestrian part of the trek.

Legal and Administrative Direction
After the reenactment, HTF initiated the idea of the national historic trail, encouraged Congress to include the trail in the 1978 amendment to the National Trails System Act, and continued to work for a national trail study, which Congress requested in Public Law 9811 (March 1983).

As defined in the National Trails System Act (NTSA), as amended [see appendix A], national historic trails are "extended trails which follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historical significance." Such trails have as their purpose "the identification and protection of the historic route and its historic remnants and artifacts for public use and enjoyment."

(NTSA, SEC. 3(a)[3]) Each historic trail may accomplish this purpose in different ways.

The Western Region of the National Park Service (NPS), with support from HTF, completed the feasibility study of the Anza Trail route in 1986. This study determined that the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail met the following criteria of the National Trails System Act:

1. It was established by historic use and is historically significant as a result of that use.

2. It is nationally significant with respect to American history.

3. It has significant potential for historical interest based on historic interpretation and appreciation.

"Because only a small portion of the 12000-mile historic route crosses Federal lands available for trail uses, the role of the Federal government in the development and management of trail features would be quite limited. The primary Federal role would be that of trailwide coordination. Specific features of this coordinating role would include the completion of a comprehensive plan, provision of trailwide informational materials, staffing and logistical support for an advisory council, provision of standardized trail markers for installation by others along the non-Federal portions of the historic route, and provision of technical assistance in the development of interpretive materials in nonFederal areas.

"The [legislated] project concept would include a significant role for a volunteer organization which would have the responsibility for raising funds for various trail related projects, mobilizing volunteer workers as needed, maintaining liaison with local governments, assisting the designated lead agency in various coordination and information functions, and creating and publishing informational materials supplementary to government materials. The National Park Service, the Federal agency responsible for overall coordination of the project, would be authorized to assist the volunteer organization in accomplishing its function through the provision, as available, of office space, office and field equipment, mailing and telephone service, and technical assistance in the preparation of interpretive materials.

"Implementation of project features, i.e. trail development and the installation of route markers and interpretive displays, on Federal lands would be the responsibility of the Federal agencies, although it is expected that material assistance would be provided by volunteer organizations. On non-Federal lands, constituting the vast majority of the route, the responsibility for project features would rest with state and local governments, assisted to a significant degree by the volunteer organization." [Juan Bautista de Anza National Trail Study, August 1986, p. 4] 

Purpose of the Plan
The NTSA requires that a comprehensive plan be prepared for the management and use of each trail. The plan should include the following items: 

specific objectives and practices to be observed in managing the trail including 

dentification of significant natural, historic, and cultural resources to be preserved 

details of anticipated cooperative agreements with federal, state, and local organizations and private interests

an identified carrying capacity for the trail and a plan for its implementation 

procedures for marking the trail with signs. 

protection measures for any highpotential historic sites or route segments (for definitions, refer to the NTSA, section 12 in appendix A) 

general and site-specific development plans, including anticipated costs

alternatives to foster public knowledge of the trail and help visitors understand the importance of sites along the trail 
provisions for appropriate public use, including opportunities to retrace the trail 

certification procedures for nonfederal trail sites, segments, or interpretive programs marketing and tourism opportunities responsibilities for resource preservation, interpretation, visitor use, development, operations, and maintenance of trail sites and markers 

the related environmental impacts of the alternatives

Management Objectives
The goals of NPS trail administration are to protect a trail right-of-way, to protect cultural and scenic resources along the trail, to foster public appreciation and understanding of the trail, to encourage facilities for resource protection and public information and use, and to promote cooperative management of trail resources and programs.

To provide a common management framework, the objectives described below were derived from other national trail management plans. These objectives have been modified through public review to describe desired aims for the Anza Trail. The plan addresses the means by which these aims will be achieved.

Resource Protection
Protect certified trail segments and historic sites from overuse, inappropriate use, and vandalism. 

Identify and protect ethnographic resources (those cultural and natural resources of ongoing significance to contemporary peoples, especially American Indians and Hispanics).

Encourage uses of adjacent lands that complement the protection and interpretation of trail resources. 

Encourage research to improve knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the trail and related resources, and their significance in history. 

Comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Historic Preservation Act, and other environmental, cultural, and historic preservation laws. 

Visitor Use and Experience
Ensure safe and informative experiences for all visitors and trail users. 

Ensure that interpretive activities and services, including publications, are based on accurate historical, archeological, ethnographic, and environmental examination and documentation. 

Incorporate the mixed ethnic character of the Anza trek members into interpretive activities and programs; promote interpretation for each site in appropriate languages other than English, especially Spanish and local Indian dialects, as possible. 

Promote coordinated interpretation along the trail by developing a consistent thematic framework. 

Provide visitors and trail users opportunities to see and appreciate historic trail segments and related sites; improve access to trail sites where appropriate and feasible. 

Provide, as feasible, access to people of all abilities to facilities and programs. 

Ensure public understanding of the roles of the various managing entities. 

Foster respect for the rights of landowners. 

Development
Select the appropriate right-of-way for a multiuse trail. 

Mark the trail route and auto route with standardized and recognizable markers. 

Provide at least the minimum facilities necessary to allow for the enjoyment and protection of resources and the trail.

Encourage a unified design theme for signs, exhibits, and public use facilities.

Define roles and responsibilities and develop effective partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies, other land managers, private landowners, and organizations and individuals supporting the trail. 

Consult with the trail's advisory council on matters related to trail management. 

Promote the management and development of the entire trail as one integrated system. 

Certify trail segments and sites that meet the criteria described in this management plan consistent with the purposes of the National Trails System Act, as amended. 

Use the official national historic trail symbol and logo to mark the trail and to indicate authorized interpretive facilities, information material, and fundraising activities.

Prepare on a regular schedule a Statement for Management (SFM), or other standard NPS planning document, to update the inventory of the trail's condition and analyze its problems. [The SFM provides a format for evaluating conditions and identifying major issues and information voids and will be used by trail administrators to determine the nature and extent of required plans and studies to be programmed.]

Alternatives and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
This document contains the approved alternative as described in the National Park Service Record of Decision dated October 3, 1996. (See "Record of Decision") The alternatives other than the approved proposal are not included here. This document includes the Affected Environment section of the Environmental Impact Statement and the appendices. To obtain a copy of the entire Comprehensive Management and Use Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Contact the National Park Service, 1111 Jackson Street, Suite 700, Oakland, CA  94607.