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Cahuenga Pass
US Route 101 North entering the Cahuenga Pass.jpg
Northbound US Route 101/Hollywood Freeway entering the Cahuenga Pass
Elevation 745 ft (227 m)
Traversed by US 101 (Hollywood Freeway)
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Range Santa Monica Mountains

The Cahuenga Pass is a low mountain pass in Los Angeles, California. It goes through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. This pass is a natural gateway. It connects the busy Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley.

What is the Cahuenga Pass?

The Cahuenga Pass is a natural opening in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is located in the Hollywood Hills part of Los Angeles, California. Its name comes from the indigenous Tongva language. The pass is about 745 feet (227 meters) high.

Connecting Two Worlds

This pass is very important for travel in Los Angeles. It connects the large Los Angeles Basin area to the San Fernando Valley. You can drive through it using U.S. Route 101, also known as the Hollywood Freeway. Cahuenga Boulevard also runs through the pass. It is the lowest point where you can cross these mountains.

A Place of History

The Cahuenga Pass has been important for a long time. It was part of the historic El Camino Real route. This was a path that connected missions and towns in early California. Today, a special marker along Cahuenga Boulevard calls the area Paseo de Cahuenga. This reminds us of its rich history.

Battles in the Pass

The Cahuenga Pass was also the site of two important battles in the past. These fights happened on the San Fernando Valley side, near where Studio City is today.

  • The first was the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831. This was a fight between local settlers and the Mexican-appointed governor and his soldiers.
  • The second battle was in 1845. It was called the Battle of Providencia or the Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass. This time, locals fought each other. They were arguing about whether to separate from Mexico.

Sometimes, old cannonballs are still found in the area during digging projects. This shows how much history is hidden beneath the ground!


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