Dominquez Escalante Trail

On July 29, 1776, Father Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Father Silvestre Velez Escalante set out from Santa Fe with eight men to explore trading routes to California and establish new missions with the Indians.In early October 1776, faced with a blizzard and short supplies, the party had to decide whether to proceed to Monterrey, California or return to Santa Fe. At a point just south of Thermo Hot Springs, "lots were cast" to make the decision. The historic decision was made and the party turned south to Santa Fe.