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

Sanford Cutoff

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 7, 2021

1. Sanford Cutoff Marker

Inscription. For centuries the Cajon Pass has been an important thoroughfare for travelers and traders between the Mojave Desert and Southern California. Following the route of the Old Spanish Trail, most travelers transited the pass on its east side. This route, however, was very narrow and rocky, and was less than suitable for wagon travel. In 1850, William T. B. Sanford constructed a much better wagon road through the West Cajon pass. This route, a few miles south of this marker, departed from the Old Spanish Trail near present day Victorville, crossed Baldy Mesa Ridge and turned down West Cajon Canyon to Mormon Rocks, then rejoined the Old Spanish Trail near the present location of the Interstate 15 Truck Scales. Known variously as the Sanford Crossing, Sanford Cutoff, or Sanford Pass Route, this westerly transit was less rocky than its eastern counterpart, but was still very steep at its summit. On the descent, cattle and wagons often slid the first fifty feet; on the ascent, it was necessary to hitch as many as 32 mules to each wagon. In 1855, Sanford and Phineas Banning constructed a new alignment about one and one-half miles

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

west of his original road. Although it was an improvement over his earlier route, grades were still as steep as 30%. The arduous ascent and descent of the Sanford Cutoff troubled freighters until the completion of the John Brown Toll Road through Coyote Canyon (now called Crowder Canyon) on the east side of Cajon Pass in 1861.

William T. B. Sanford was killed in the 1863 explosion of the steamer Ada Hancock in San Pedro Harbor.

Plaque Dedicated May 3, 2015 by the Billy Holcomb Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

Erected 2015 by Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 154.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the Old Spanish National Trail series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1902.

Location. 34° 24.216′ N, 117° 30.969′ W. Marker is in Phelan, California, in San Bernardino County. It is on Manada Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8355 Manada Road,

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2015

2. Sanford Cutoff Marker

Phelan CA 92371, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mormon Trail Monument (approx. 3.7 miles away); Phelan Memorial Library (approx. 3.8 miles away); Hill 582 (approx. 6 miles away); Rolar’s “66” Gas Station (approx. 7 miles away); Camp Cajon Monument (approx. 7.3 miles away); Camp Cajon (approx. 7.3 miles away); Santa Fe and Salt Lake Trail (approx. 7.3 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 7.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Phelan.

Also see . . .
1. William T. B. Sanford. William T.B. Sanford (died 1863) was a road builder, a landowner and the second postmaster of Los

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 7, 2021

3. Sanford Cutoff Marker

Angeles, California, after it became a part of the United States. He was a member of the Los Angeles Common Council in 1853–54. (Submitted on February 10, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

2. The Toll Road Through Cajon Pass. The following year, freighters Phineas Banning and W. T. B. Sanford constructed a much better wagon road through the west Cajon valley. The route was not nearly as rough as the crossing on the old Spanish Trail five or six miles to the east, but it lengthened the travel by several miles and it was described as being excessively steep at the summit. (Submitted on February 10, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

3. Alternate Route 66 From 1914 in the Cajon Pass. A YouTube road trip. (Submitted on July 21, 2018.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 7, 2021

4. Sanford Cutoff Marker

Clampers Awaiting the Unveiling image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2015

5. Clampers Awaiting the Unveiling

The Sanford Grade image. Click for full size.

Mojave Historical Society/Victor Valley Museum

6. The Sanford Grade

Sanford Cutoff Wagon Ruts image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2015

7. Sanford Cutoff Wagon Ruts

Dedication Patch image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2015

8. Dedication Patch

Sanford Cutoff
Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 - ECV
Spring Doins 2015-6020

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,818 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 8, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on May 4, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3, 4. submitted on February 8, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on May 4, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 6. submitted on February 10, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 7, 8. submitted on May 4, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.