Self-Guided Tour - Anza Trail Junction

icon of winding trail with an X at the end

Quick Facts

Location:

Anza Trail junction, just outside Tumacácori mission grounds

The Santa Cruz River has long been a highway of trade and travel. Prehistoric people followed the river to trade with neighbors. The O’odham farmed along the river, using the floodplain and low banks to grow crops. Later, missionaries and explorers would rely on these existing networks to colonize the area.  

In 1775, an expedition of approximately 240 people and nearly a thousand head of livestock followed this river on the first part of a journey that would establish the first European settlement on the San Francisco Bay. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail was designated to commemorate this massive and important movement of settlers across the nation. 

Today the Anza Trail preserves this important history while also providing valuable outdoor recreational space. At Tumacácori it passes through habitat that supports the most diverse migratory bird population outside of the tropics. Hikers, runners, and riders can travel along its route. Even a casual stroll connects visitors to the residents and travelers of history.