Old Stage Road

Old Stage Road. . Running north and south, following an older Indian Trail is the route taken by many Spanish expeditions, American trappers, traders and parties of exploration. It was the major inland route of gold seekers to the northern and southern Mines and was the first public road in Tulare County. One of the most noteworthy Spanish expeditions was the Gabriel Moraga Expedition of 1806 exploring the area south from the Mission San Juan Bautista through Tejon Pass to the Mission San Fernando. Moraga named the San Joaquin River from which the valley derives its name. Some of the more famous American parties to pass this way were:
, Jedediah S. Smith - 1826 and 1827
 , Ewing Young - 1830 and 1832
 , Thomas "Pedleg' Smith - 1830's and later , 
 Joseph R. Walker - 1830's and later , 
John C. Fremont with Kit Carson as guide - 1844 , 
 Edward Kern, Joseph R. Walker 
as guide detached from Fremont's 3rd Expedition - 1846
 , Stockton~Los Angeles Road - 1853
 , Butterfield Overland Stage - 1858 to 1861