California, Tulare County, Fountain Springs
![]()
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 & 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
(Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
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 & 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
(Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.