Reference no. 97 Range Tehachapi Mountains | Elevation 1,469 m | |
Traversed by Tehachapi Willow Springs Road Location Tehachapi, California, United States | ||
Oak Creek Pass (elevation 4,820 feet (1,470 m)) is a mountain pass through the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California. The road across it connects the City of Tehachapi with the Mojave Desert.
Contents
Map of Oak Creek Pass, California 93561, USA
History
The first European to use the pass was Francisco Garces, in 1776. He used it to return to the Mojave Desert after exploring the San Joaquin Valley.
It was later used by John C. Frémont during his exploration of the west from 1843-1844. Like Garces, he also used it to cross from the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert. That route would also later be used by present day California State Route 58.
Oak Creek Pass was the only route between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert over the Tehachapi Mountains until 1876, when the railroad was built to the north through Tehachapi Pass. Ironically, the railroad was built on the 100th anniversary of Garces first use of the pass.
Oak Creek Pass is a California Historical Landmark (# 97).