Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

08/27/2026

We thank Caltrans District 8 for their partnership to replace Auto Tour signs in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties!

Can you identify this road? Hint: find the road on these step-by-step instructions for the County of Riverside: https://anzahistorictrail.org/county/riverside-ca/

Photo credit: Caltrans District 8

08/25/2026

🥳 The time has come! Anza 250: A Documentary Film will be premiering at the historic Presidio Theatre in a few weeks.

🎬September 17, 2026 | 6:30-8:30 pm
🌉99 Moraga Avenue San Francisco, CA 94129

🚲Follow Luis Valle Cordero's journey biking the Anza Trail on the 250th anniversary of the expedition. He traveled 1,200 miles along the expedition's route from present-day Sonora, Mexico, to San Francisco. Luis, the filmmaker, and producer will be in attendance!

🎞️https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=42D62D12-9C28-85BD-E4492F10F3E5E5AC

Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio Theatre
Photo by Rob Preciado

08/17/2026

Anza 250 isn’t just a historic anniversary. It’s proof that we’re still moving forward when we choose unity, curiosity, and a little courage to leave our comfort zones.

From Hermosillo to San Francisco, architect and teacher Luis Valle Cordero completed his modern‑day retracing of the historic Anza Trail. His journey honors the Indigenous routes that came long before the expedition and celebrates the diverse cultures that shape the borderlands today.

“We did it!” 🌎💛

Watch his celebratory arrival in the San Francisco Presidio: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=FFAFC109-7C8F-4491-92DA-FB5FFDB70BAB

NPS photo

08/06/2026

There is so much to discover along the Anza Trail!

Follow the historic Anza Trail through the landscapes, communities,...

07/27/2026

This month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. It's a reminder that accessible spaces don’t happen by accident. They’re built hand‑in‑hand with the communities they serve. The Anza Trail Cultural History Park in Tucson is a model of that collaboration.

Plan your visit here: https://www.nps.gov/juba/planyourvisit/anza-trail-cultural-history-park-tucson-az.htm

NPS Photos/Kimberly Twardochleb

07/22/2026

Native peoples shaped Alcatraz Island long before it became a prison for notorious gangsters. Hopi, Maidu, and Apache elders were once incarcerated there for resisting federal boarding school policies.

Decades later, on November 20, 1969, Indigenous activists occupied Alcatraz to demand Native land rights. This ignited a powerful movement for Native American civil rights that still resonates today.

Learn more about the Indigenous communities along the Anza Trail by checking out the Travel Guide to Tribes along the Anza Trail here: https://www.nps.gov/juba/blogs/new-travel-guide-welcomes-travelers-to-unlock-tribal-experiences-along-the-anza-national-historic-trail.htm
Destination Native America American Indigenous Tourism Association

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07/17/2026

We thank the City of Hercules for their partnership to replace Auto Tour signs in the city!

Can you identify this road? Hint: find the road on these step-by-step instructions: https://anzahistorictrail.org/county/contra-costa-ca/

Photo credit: City of Hercules

07/15/2026

🥾 Park and Recreation Month is here! Get outside and explore the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. There are SO many great recreational trail segments along the historic route that it's hard to recommend just one. If you are in Arizona, well, be sure to get an early start - it's hot out there! In California, consider the section through Coyote Canyon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, hike along the Pacific coastline in Santa Barbara, or catch views of the Golden Gate Bridge along the paths in the SF Presidio.

Visit https://www.nps.gov/juba/planyourvisit/maps.htm for trailheads and detailed info.

Who's ready for an adventure? 🌄

NPS Photos

06/27/2026

250 years ago today, the colonists on the Anza expedition arrived in San Francisco. As our nation celebrates America at 250, we commemorate the many journeys that shaped America.

The Anza colonists—a mix of Afro-Latine, Indigenous, Mestizo, and Criollo—built one of the West's earliest colonies of New Spain. They desired a better life for their children and risked everything. In doing so, they laid the foundation for what would become California.

This milestone reminds us that America's founding story is not one narrative, but many. From the Indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands for millennia, to the colonists and pioneers who followed, each chapter enriches our understanding of who we are.

As we mark 250 years of American independence, let's honor the full spectrum of histories that shaped our nation. Golden Gate National Recreation Area