In 1829, Mexican explorer Antonio Armijo led the first successful caravan from Santa Fe to Southern California, joining up with Smith's route to open what would later be called the Old Spanish Trail. The route resulted in immediate commerce between Santa Fe and Los Angeles. Pack trains made annual treks between New Mexico and California, bringing woven Mexican products to California, which lacked sheep, and bartering them for horses and mules, scarce in New Mexico. The trail carried mule-trains over the Cajon Pass, then west through Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and El Monte, to the region's major settlements at Mission San Gabriel and Los Angeles.
in 1829 mexican explorer antonio armijo led the first successful caravan from santa fe to southern california joining up with smith's route to open what would later be called the old spanish trail the route resulted in immediate commerce between santa fe and los angeles pack trains made annual treks between new mexico and california bringing woven mexican products to california which lacked sheep and bartering them for horses and mules scarce in new mexico the trail carried mule-trains over the cajon pass then west through rancho cucamonga upland and el monte to the region's major settlements at mission san gabriel and los angeles