3003. Old Spanish Trail Routes

Antonio Armijo's Expedition - 1,200 Miles

Antonio Armijo and his expedition of 60 men and 100 mules laden with New Mexico's woolen goods, followed in the padres' footsteps across the Colorado River in 1829-1830. They continued along the base of Romana Mesa in the distance and followed Wahweap Creek to the west, returning  the same way a few months later.

The 1200-mile Armijo Route opened a commercial land link between remote locales of the Mexican frontier for the first time, providing welcome commerce, but also strengthening the native slave trade, a consequence Dominguez and Escalante did not envision in their quest to convert native peoples and build missions among them.

Want to know about the other routes? More about the routes can be found on the Old Spanish Trail Association website.

More about each route is also available on the brochure and map page (Publications).