Existing comment:
Explorers:
Spaniards in the Southwest:
After the conquest of Mexico, Spain claimed much of what is now the western U.S. Except for a few unofficial trading expeditions, this area was left unexplored by the Spanish until the late 1700s, when Spain began to expand its empire to thwart British and Russian colonial interests in the West.
Earlier explorers had determined that it was not possible to cross the Rio de Tizon, today's Colorado River, in the area around the Grand Canyon. With this knowledge, they sent expeditions northward to discover a route from Santa Fe to California which avoided the rugged canyon country. These routes formed part of the Old Spanish Trail through this part of Utah.
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.
Fur Trappers:
British and American fur trappers and traders traversed this area in the early 1800s. Most of their names are unknown but one, Denis Julien, left his name on rocks in a number of places in the canyon country. Born in the 1770s, Julien spent the first 50 years of his life near St. Louis, Missouri, before moving west about 1827. He was more than 60 years old when he was exploring the canyons of southeast Utah.
Old Spanish Trail:
The Old Spanish Trail was a horse and burro pack route that connected Sante Fe with California when much of the Southwest was Mexican territory. Beginning in 1829, bustling trade developed between Santa Fe and the missions of southern California.
Trade caravans traveled fairly regularly over the Old Spanish Trail, taking woolen goods west and returning from California with horses and mules. Several branches of the trail developed as travelers sought routes which were easier and shorter with water and grazing for their animals. Many of these routes followed earlier trails that were developed by the native people. By 1848, commercial travel over this segment of the trail had ceased. |