Existing comment:
Juan Maria Antonia Rivera:
In 1765, Juan Maria Antonio Rivera explored this part of the Southwest to locate the place where the Indians crossed the Colorado River, what they called Rio de Tizon. Led by Indian guides, Rivera and a small party of Spaniards traveled north from Abiquiu, New Mexico, through southern Colorado along trails used by previous Spanish and Ute traders. They crossed into unknown territory near here between the modern communities of Monticello and Moab, Utah.
Rivera's party is believed to have reached the Colorado River via nearby Spanish Valley, south of the park, or by Castle Valley, a few miles upstream. Warned by their guides about hostile people on the other side, they did not cross the river but they did find the Indian ford and pioneered the route later used as the eastern leg of the Old Spanish Trail. |