Near Daggett in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Forks of the Road

Photographed By Michael Kindig, November 28, 2010

1. Forks of the Road Marker

Inscription. Three miles north lies the Mojave River and the site of Forks of the Road. This was the junction of two major travel routes: The Old Spanish or Salt Lake Trail and The Ancient Mojave River Trail. In the 1830s and 1840s the Old Spanish Trail saw regular trade caravans from Santa Fe, bound for Los Angeles via Cajon Pass. The founding of Salt Lake City in 1847 and Mormon San Bernardino in 1851 brought renewed traffic, as did limited numbers of 49ers during the Gold Rush. The Mohave River Trail was an ancient trade route between the Native American tribes of the Colorado River and the California Coast. In 1849 it became the basis for a military road linking Fort Mojave in Arizona with Drum Barracks in Los Angeles. This is now commonly known as the Mojave Road. Never a specific spot, the Forks of the Road is better understood as a large braided network of individual tracks.

Erected 1999 by Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the County of San Bernardino. (Marker Number 98.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles

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• Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, the Mojave Road (Old Government Road), and the Old Spanish National Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 34° 50.677′ N, 116° 46.108′ W. Marker is near Daggett, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on National Trails Highway west of Minneola Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is approximately 100 feet northwest of the intersection, south of the railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 40898 National Trails Highway, Daggett CA 92327, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Newberry Springs (approx. 4.8 miles away); Original Del Taco (approx. 5.1 miles away); Statue of Li Wangyang (approx. 6 miles away); Liberty Sculpture Park (approx. 6 miles away); Daggett Garage (approx. 6.7 miles away); Daggett (approx. 6.8 miles away); Bagdad Café, Newberry Springs, California (approx. 7.3 miles away); Town of Calico (approx. 9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daggett.

More about this marker. The actual location

Photographed By Michael Kindig, November 28, 2010

2. Forks of the Road Marker

of Forks of the Road is 4.4 miles north and one mile east.

Regarding Forks of the Road. About 4 miles east of Yermo, the Mojave Road (Old Government Road) and the Old Spanish Trail joined. This junction was known as the Forks of the Road and divided the road from Utah from the road to Arizona. The Old Spanish Trail originally followed the ancient Mojave Indian Trail from the Colorado River towards the Pacific Ocean for trading purposes. Some remnants of the old trails are still visible. SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Also see . . . Old Spanish Trail Association. (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Forks of the Road Marker - at left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, November 28, 2010

3. Forks of the Road Marker - at left

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2011. This page has been viewed 1,308 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on November 8, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 25, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.