Santa Susana Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Susana Pass |
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Santa Susana Pass Road looking west from Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
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| Elevation | 1,200 feet (370 m) |
| Traversed by |  SR 118 |
| Location | Simi Valley / Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Range | Santa Susana Mountains/Simi Hills |
| Coordinates | 34°16′05″N 118°37′59″W / 34.26806°N 118.63306°W |
The Santa Susana Pass, originally called Simi Pass, is a low mountain pass in Southern California. It connects the San Fernando Valley (specifically the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles) with the city of Simi Valley. This pass is a natural pathway through the Simi Hills.
Over the years, the Santa Susana Pass has appeared in many movies. These include Shooting High (1940) and Jack and the Beanstalk (1917).
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Nature and Wildlife at Santa Susana Pass
The Santa Susana Pass acts as a natural border between the Simi Hills to the south and the Santa Susana Mountains to the north. It is a very important area for animals to move between these two mountain ranges. This makes it a critical wildlife corridor, which is like a natural bridge for animals.
The landscape here is beautiful, with large sandstone rocks and many boulders. The plants you'll see are typical of California's natural areas. There are chaparral shrub forests, oak savannahs (open areas with scattered oak trees), and native bunchgrasses. The pass also has water sources that last all year. These provide homes for many different birds, mammals, and reptiles.
History of the Pass
The Santa Susana Pass has a long and interesting history. People have used this natural pathway for thousands of years.
Native American History
The Santa Susana Pass was a meeting point for several Native American tribes. These included the Tongva-Fernandeño, Chumash-Venturaño, and Tataviam-Fernandeño peoples. They used a trail through the pass for an estimated 8,000 years. This shows how important this route was for ancient communities.
Spanish and Mexican Eras
The first Europeans to travel through the pass were part of the Spanish Portolá expedition. This group explored California by land in 1769–1770. They crossed the pass on January 15, 1770. They were heading east to a camping spot that later became part of Mission San Fernando Rey de España.
After the mission lands were taken over by the government in 1834, local ranchers used the trail. Over time, this trail slowly became a rough road for wagons.
Early California Statehood
American newspapers in California first called the pass "Simi Pass" in 1857. This was when the Los Angeles Star reported on the capture of an outlaw there. The name "Simi Pass" was used until about 1911. However, the name "Santa Susana Pass" started appearing in newspapers like the Los Angeles Herald in 1887. This name became more common over time.
In 1859, the California government decided to improve the old wagon road. They spent $15,000 on this project. Local counties also helped with funding. This new road became known as the Old Santa Susana Stage Road.
A very steep part of the road on the San Fernando Valley side was called the "Devil's Slide." It was so steep that horses were often blindfolded. Chains were used to help the wagon brakes. Passengers usually had to get out and walk down this dangerous section.
The American Civil War began in 1861. This war stopped mail service on the main stagecoach route. To keep mail moving, the government hired the Butterfield Company. They carried mail between Los Angeles and San Francisco using the new wagon road over the Santa Susana Pass. The first mail stagecoach traveled through the pass on April 6, 1861.
This route became a vital connection between the Los Angeles Basin and Ventura County. It was the main way to travel by stagecoach between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This continued until train service opened between the cities in 1876. The Old Santa Susana Stage Road is now a protected historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Late 19th and 20th Century Changes
In 1895, a new wagon route was built to avoid the difficult Devil's Slide. This new road was first called El Camino Nuevo (the New Road). Later, it was named the Chatsworth Grade Road. This road was used until the Santa Susana Pass Road was built in 1917. The 1917 road is now called Old Santa Susana Pass Road.
This was the first road for cars between the San Fernando and Simi Valleys. It was also the main road north to Santa Barbara and San Francisco. This was true until another road, the Conejo Grade, was improved. In 1968, State Route 118 opened. This freeway, also known as the "Simi Valley–San Fernando Valley Freeway," became the newest route across the pass. In 1994, it was renamed the "Ronald Reagan Freeway."
The pass area became famous for appearing in many movies, especially Westerns. These films were made from the 1920s to the 1950s. They were shot at nearby movie ranches like Spahn, Iverson, and Corriganville.
Today, parts of the old wagon road and the rocky hills are preserved. They are part of the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park. This park is open for the public to explore.
The Southern Pacific Railroad also built three railroad tunnels through the pass. Construction started in 1900, and the train route opened in 1904. The railroad also built the Santa Susana Depot in 1903.
Images for kids
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Santa Susana Pass Road looking west from Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
