Oak Creek Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oak Creek Pass |
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|---|---|
| Elevation | 4,820 feet (1,470 m) |
| Traversed by | Tehachapi Willow Springs Road |
| Location | Tehachapi, California, United States |
| Range | Tehachapi Mountains |
| Coordinates | 35°03′40″N 118°23′20″W / 35.061°N 118.389°W |
| Reference #: | 97 |
Oak Creek Pass is a special pathway through the Tehachapi Mountains in California. It's like a natural doorway that connects the city of Tehachapi with the vast Mojave Desert. This pass sits high up, at an elevation of about 4,820 feet (1,469 meters) above sea level.
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What is Oak Creek Pass?
Oak Creek Pass is a natural opening in the Tehachapi Mountains. It is located in Kern County, California. A road called Tehachapi Willow Springs Road goes right through it. This road helps people travel between the city of Tehachapi and the Mojave Desert. The pass is quite high up, reaching 4,820 feet (1,469 meters) in elevation.
A Look Back in Time
This mountain pass has a long and interesting history. For many years, it was the only way to cross the Tehachapi Mountains. People used it to travel between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert.
Early Explorers
The first European to use Oak Creek Pass was a Spanish explorer named Francisco Garcés. He traveled through it in 1776. Father Garcés used the pass to return to the Mojave Desert after exploring the San Joaquin Valley.
Later, another famous explorer, John C. Frémont, also used this pass. He traveled through it during his explorations of the western United States in 1844. Like Garcés, Frémont used the pass to go from the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert. Today, part of California State Route 58 follows a similar path.
The Railroad Arrives
Oak Creek Pass was the most important route over the Tehachapi Mountains until 1876. That year, a new railroad was built. This railroad went through Tehachapi Pass, which is a bit further north. It's interesting to note that the railroad was finished exactly 100 years after Father Garcés first used Oak Creek Pass.
A Special Landmark
Today, Oak Creek Pass is recognized as a California Historical Landmark. It was given this special title on March 29, 1933. Its landmark number is 97. This means it's an important place in California's history. It reminds us of the early explorers and how people traveled long ago.
