BLM-California Old Spanish National Historic Trail Recreation & Development Strategy San Bernardino & Inyo Counties, California—September, 2015 14 Old Spanish National Historic Trail Recreation & Development Strategy Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office Prepared For: The Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office The Old Spanish Trail Association Prepared By: Michael Knight, BLM, ACE Landscape Architect Intern Graydon Bascom, BLM, ACE Historic Trails Intern September, 2015 Contents Note to the Reader 1 Participants 2 Explanation of Document Sections 3 Project Overview Old Spanish Trail Map 7 Recreation Route Map 9 Typical Trail Elements 11 Trail Zone Details Cajon Junction to Barstow (Zone 1) 15 Barstow to Harvard Rd (Zone 2) 19 Harvard Rd to Salt Creek (Zone 3) 27 Zzyzx to Piute Gorge (Zone 4) 31 Salt Creek to California State Line (Zone 5) 37 Summary 41 Above: Old Spanish Trail Marker at Emigrant Pass Cover Page: Top photo: Salt Creek ACEC, Bottom Photo: Mouth of Spanish Canyon looking southwest Note To The Reader National Historic Trails are trails that have a historical significance to the nation, and can only be designated by an act of Congress. There are currently 19 National Historic Trails in the United States. In 1968, the National Trails System Act, which is intended to provide for the outdoor recreation needs of the public, opened the door to federal involvement in all types of trails. Today, the Bureau of Land Management, along with the National Park Service and National Forest Service, are responsible for the administration and management of National Historic Trails. The purpose of this document is to guide decision makers in bringing the Old Spanish National Historic Trail to life, in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties, so that it becomes a valuable educational and recreational asset for residents and visitors alike. It is not a decisional document, but a guiding document for future efforts to mark, improve, interpret and utilize the trail. In order to accomplish this goal, a planning charrette was organized and took place on April 27, 2015. Professionals and private parties from various backgrounds met together to discuss the trail and Small group discussion at the open house on May 28, 2015. identify a recreation route through San Bernardino and Inyo Counties. An open house was also held on May 28, 2015, where draft maps were presented and feedback was collected. Although the recreation route in most cases is not the exact path traveled by traders and pioneers, it follows the route as closely as possible. Prime locations along this route were identified for the addition of trail heads, waysides, overlooks, and kiosks. The addition of these elements will make the trail accessible to the public and provide opportunities to interact with and learn about the Old Spanish National Historic Trail. Large group discussion at the open house on May 28, 2015. 1 Recreation & Development Strategy Participants Name Organization Rob Sweeten Bureau of Land Management-Utah State Office Michael Knight American Conservation Experience/BLM-Utah State Office Graydon Bascom American Conservation Experience/BLM-Utah State Office Rose Beardshear Bureau of Land Management-Barstow Field Office Jim Shear Bureau of Land Management-Barstow Field Office Zach Pratt Bureau of Land Management-Barstow Field Office Art Basulto Bureau of Land Management-Barstow Field Office Todd Suess National Park Service-Mojave National Preserve Dora McKeever National Park Service-Mojave National Preserve Nelson Miller Old Spanish Trail Association Jack Prichett Old Spanish Trail Association Tom Sutak Old Spanish Trail Association Charles Wood Chemehuevi Tribe Elena Rivera Barstow Chamber of Commerce Gaither Lowenstein City of Barstow Jane Brockhurst Main Street Murals Chistie Helm Carl Dennett Cliff Walker Cynthia Kienitz Dave McClure David Brockhurst Don Alexander Hannah Morris Jim Dennett Karen Gray Rick Deer Sam Hunter Scott Smith Susan Sorrells Suzi Dennett Ted Kalil Viola Basulto Watson Hammond 2 Explanation of Document Sections The Project Overview section of this document gives background information and defines project boundaries. It also illustrates how the portions of trail running through San Bernardino and Inyo Counties were divided into 5 zones. Lastly, this section provides examples of recreation facilities that could be implemented along the trail. The Trail Zone Details section of the document studies each trail zone individually. Each trail zone is shown on a map and then described in detail. The ‘Zone Properties’ box, seen in the example below, is included for each trail segment. It is a quick reference for facts and other information about the segment. Zone Properties Box Example Majority Property Holders: Lists the primary land owners surrounding the designated Bureau of Land Management (BLM), recreation route, which is important for planning purposes. Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS) Developed Interpretation Score: 5 Indicates the existing/potential for interpretation that exists along the recreation route for each zone individually. This is based on existing facilities and ideas for future developed sites that came 2-Wheel Automobile Experience Score: 5 from the open house. 4-Wheel Drive/OHV Experience Score: 5 Indicates the recreational experience that exists along route segments for each type of travel. This is based on scenic quality, access, and proximity/association to the Old Spanish Trail. This Non-Motorized Experience Score: 5 was ranked on a 1-10 scale (10 being high). Historic Integrity Score: 5 Indicates how closely the landscape setting resembles what would have been there during the trail’s period of significance (1829- 1848). This was ranked on a 1-10 scale (10 being high). Total Length: Total length of the all routes combined in that zone. approx. 10 mi. Existing Trail Elements: Lists any existing trail element from the Old Spanish Trail such as 1 Example ruts, remaining from the period of significance. Also lists existing 2 Example recreation facilities and interpretive signage that are specifically tied 3 Example to the Old Spanish National Historic Trail in some way. Proposed Trail Elements: Lists proposed trail elements such as interpretive structures and 4 Example trail heads that were discussed as appropriate for specific locations 5 Example along the trail. 6 Example Important Connections: Lists connections to other recreation or cultural resources in the a Example area that could be accessed by people using the recreation route. b Example Also lists areas where additional interpretation and education of c Example the trail could be included in public facilities. 3 Nodes Interstate State Roads Paved Roads Unpaved Roads OST Congressionally Designated Route Map Legend Recreation Nodes are placed at each end The municipalRoute boundaries 2wd and of the trail zone and are used to land ownershipRecreation show who owns the land surroundingRoute 4wd the trail and break up the trail into areas of Nodes similar recreation opportunities any special designations.Recreation This or show where major interpretive Interstate is importantRoute because Hiking it Trailshows opportunities exist. Nodes opportunitiesLocal for Route partnerships 2wd State Roads and constraints on how the Interstate Local Route 4wd Nodes public can recreate on the trail. Road types are shown on top of Paved Roads State Roads Local Route the recreation route to give users NodesInterstate Hiking Trail an idea of what the recreation Unpaved Roads InterstateStatePaved Roads Roads Municipal experience will be like. OST Congressionally Boundaries UnpavedDesignated Roads Route StatePaved Roads Roads BLM Wilderness Recreation OST Congressionally Study Areas UnpavedRoute 2wd Roads The congressionally designated DesignatedPaved Roads Route BLM OHV Areas route is the trail as it was Recreation RecreationOSTUnpavedRoute Congressionally 4wd Roads designated by congress in 2002. RouteDesignated 2wd Route BLM Wilderness Areas OSTRecreation Congressionally Recreation DesignatedRoute Hiking Route Trail BLM The different line types on each RouteLocal Route 2wd4wd 2wd map indicate how the recreation Recreation U.S. Forest Service (USFS) route and the local routes can be RouteLocal Route 4wdHiking2wd 4wd Trail LocalRecreation Route 2wd traveled. The motorized routes Local Route National Park Service (NPS) Route Hiking4wd Trail are all on existing roads that LocalHiking Route Trail 4wd LocalRecreation Route 2wd NPS Wilderness Areas are approved for each type of Route Hiking Trail MunicipalLocal Route travel. Local routes are alternate Local Route 4wd LocalBoundariesHiking Route Trail 2wd Department of Defense roads or trails that connect the BLM Wilderness Local Route recreation route. In some areas MunicipalLocalStudy Route Areas 4wd State BoundariesHiking Trail they are used to show where Local Route BLMBLM WildernessOHV Areas 2-wheel drive vehicles can bypass MunicipalHiking Trail Private BoundariesStudy Areas 4-wheel drive segments of the BLM Wilderness Areas MunicipalBLM Wilderness BLM OHV Areas recreation route. BoundariesStudy Areas BLM BLM Wilderness BLM Wilderness Areas StudyBLM OHV Areas Areas Viewshed Analysis U.S. Forest Service (USFS) BLMBLM WildernessOHV Areas Areas National Park Service (NPS) A viewshed analysis was 10 Miles BLMU.S. Forest Wilderness Service Areas (USFS) generated from the recreation NPS Wilderness Areas route for each zone. The Green National Park Service (NPS) BLMU.S. Forest Service