Mormon Pioneer Trail

On June 1851, the first major group of 520 Mormon settlers entered Southern California at Baldy Mesa Ridge in the West Cajon Pass. This location is northwest of Highway 138, about four miles from the Palmdale Freeway offramp. The Wagon Route ran past this location, along the base of the mountains and into the valley. The pioneers purchased 35,509 acres of land from the Lugo family, and the settlement of San Bernardino was established.