Future Events

Beaver dam in Northern California

Southern California Rendezvous 2026
proposed by Art Hurley

This Rendezvous envisions visiting the monuments / locations mentioned in our “Jedediah Smith And His Monuments” book between Bakersfield and Mission San Gabriel Archangel in the LA basin. It can be done in reverse in an easy two days. To my knowledge there is no marker or monument in the area of the old Pueblo of Los Angeles ( Olivera Street Downtown), but the Avila house exists there and was visited by Smith.

Route Description: San Gabriel to Bakersfield-2 days

Start: 8am breakfast at hotel near the mission, followed by a half hour discussion laying out the background of his desire to investigate California, and a description of our route and the two JSS visits to the mission and to Southern California in general. 

  1. Depart after the intro for Mission San Gabriel: Recap his experiences while there, and the reception of his party by Spanish authorities. Time estimate there. (30 min)
  2. Depart the mission for (30 min) drive to the San Dimas City Hall with monument on grounds. Discuss the JS camp at Mud Springs. Maybe drive 2 minutes south for a drive by of the Mud springs site- Google earth shows no parking there, but a small marker of the camping site. Time estimate at sites. (20 min)
  3. Depart San Dimas for (20 min) drive to Upland where there is the westernmost “Madonna of the Trail” statue along the National Old Trail from Maryland to California, which has a base panel referring to JS and band being the first Americans to enter California over land, Nov. 1826. Visit the monument and have lunch in the shopping center nearby. Depart after lunch for Upland for (35 min) drive to Colton.
  4. Arrive at 601 Hunts lane where there is a marker in the grounds of House Grain Company. This is the site of Fort Benson and the ancient Indian Village of Jumbo. Here was the first stock farm in the valley where Jedediah and band camped Nov. 1826, and again 1827. Time estimate for visit. (15 min)
  5. Depart Colton for the @ 15 min. drive to the San Bernardino County Courthouse to visit the JS monument at NE corner of grounds. Time estimate here. (15 min)
  6. Depart San Bernardino for the (45 min) drive to Hespereia Lake park “Pathfinder of the Southern Sierra” monument. Drive via I215/ Hwy 173. This monument marks the northern vicinity of the Old Indian Trail across the mountains to San Bernardino, used by JS in 1826 and 1827.

Continuing to Bakersfield we might take in the Mojave River Crossing monument in N Victorville enroute to Bakersfield. I have questions about JS using this crossing… The exact route to Bakersfield taken by JS is not known. I expect he was following a known Indian trail, so maybe the local guys have a good idea.

My vote would probably be to proceed from the Mojave Crossing monument to Willow Springs via E Ave. East, time. (1 1/2 hours) From Willow Springs via the Tehachapi -Willow Springs Rd. over Oak Creek Pass (Fremont’s route), time from Willow Springs to Tehachapi. (30 min) and to Bakersfield another. (45 min)

Another option is a route from Mojave Crossing that follows the North foothills of the mountains:
To Palmdale via south Hwy. 395, west Hwy. 13, and Hwy. (1 hour)

Palmdale to Willow Springs via Hwy. 14 and West Ave. D time. (40 min)

Willow Springs – Tehachapi via Willow Springs Tehachapi Rd. time. (30 min)

Further to Bakersfield via Hwy. 58, time. (45 min)

I don’t know the exact location of our Bakersfield monument!

I haven’t looked for hotel information, it will depend on which direction we proceed in.