Mission Pass (Alameda County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mission Pass |
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| Stockton Pass | |
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Descending from Mission Pass on I-680 northbound
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| Elevation | 662 ft (202 m) |
| Traversed by | Interstate 680 |
| Location | Alameda County, California, United States |
| Range | Diablo Range |
| Coordinates | 37°33′37″N 121°54′39″W / 37.5602129°N 121.9107914°W |
| Topo map | Midway, California |
 Mission Pass
Location in California
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Mission Pass is a special place in the Mount Hamilton Range hills in Alameda County, California. It is also known as the Sunol Grade and used to be called Stockton Pass. This pass is like a natural gateway. It is found northeast of Mission San José in Fremont. From there, it leads into the Sunol Valley.
Mission Pass is about 659 feet (201 meters) above sea level. Today, a major highway called Interstate 680 goes right through this pass.
Exploring Mission Pass: A Look Back in Time
Mission Pass has a long and interesting history. Many people have traveled through this important gateway over hundreds of years.
Who First Crossed Mission Pass?
The first Europeans to explore Mission Pass were from Spain. In 1772, two Spanish explorers named Pedro Fages and Padre Juan Crespí traveled through this area. They were among the first to see this part of California.
How Was Mission Pass Used by Early Travelers?
After the first explorers, Spanish soldiers also used Mission Pass. They traveled through it on their trips into the San Joaquin Valley. This pass was an important part of a route called El Camino Viejo. This old road connected the Livermore Valley to Mission San Jose. It also linked the Mission to what is now Contra Costa County.
Later, American explorers like Jedediah Smith and John Fremont also used Mission Pass. During the early days of the California Gold Rush, this pass was a main land route. It was used by many people heading to Stockton and the gold fields.
