Get to Know the Proposed Chuckwalla National Monument: Bradshaw Trail National Back Country Byway

Did you know that this stretch of California desert played a pivotal role for Indigenous populations around the Southwest and later linked Californians to gold mining opportunities in Arizona? 

The Bradshaw Trail is a remnant of a formative period in the history of the desert Southwest. The route was originally created and traveled by Native Americans and was utilized by the Cahuilla, Halchidhoma, Maricopa Peoples, and other Native American groups. After learning of the trail from Indigenous peoples, William Bradshaw popularized the trail route as the “gold road to La Paz,” an important link between Arizona gold mine camps and San Bernardino and Los Angeles in the 1860s. The route ran from the Salton Sea area to the Colorado River, where Bradshaw’s Ferry would transport overland stages across the river. It was used extensively to transport miners and other passengers to gold fields in the La Paz area of Arizona between 1862-1877.

Originally over 180 miles long, about 65 miles of the trail can still be traveled today, roughly 40 of which fall within the proposed national monument. The modern-day trail is a dirt road that largely traces the southern edge of the proposed monument along the Orocopia Mountains and ends near the Colorado River. It is a popular route for locals and visitors to explore the area in four-wheel drive vehicles, learn about the area’s mining history and experience the spectacular views of the Chuckwalla Bench and the Orocopia, Chuckwalla and Mule Mountains.

When visiting the desert, it is key to be prepared so you can visit safely, responsibly, and respectfully.

For more information, visit: https://www.blm.gov/visit/bradshaw-trail-national-back-country-byway