Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 1861, John Brown Sr. along with two business partners, built a wagon road through the Cajon Pass that would become the main route into Southern California through the the area for the next 60 years. The road would eventually even get paved and be used as an early automobile route through the mountains as part of the National Old Trails Road, the nation's first ocean-to-ocean highway.
The road was constructed by a team of 30-40 men in just a few months, largely by hand, and opened up Southern California to travel directly from the east.
By 1926, the John Brown Toll Road was bypassed by Route 66, and over time was largely forgotten. Some of the road is no longer passable to cars, and has become part of the Pacific Crest Trail, but the upper portion of the road can still be traveled.
In this video we explore the road, check out 1860s road construction, railroad history, and what remains of the National Old Trails Road. We also do not see any rattlesnakes.
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In 1861, John Brown Sr. along with two business partners, built a wagon road through the Cajon Pass that would become the main route into Southern California through the the area for the next 60 years. The road would eventually even get paved and be used as an early automobile route through the mountains as part of the National Old Trails Road, the nation's first ocean-to-ocean highway.
The road was constructed by a team of 30-40 men in just a few months, largely by hand, and opened up Southern California to travel directly from the east.
By 1926, the John Brown Toll Road was bypassed by Route 66, and over time was largely forgotten. Some of the road is no longer passable to cars, and has become part of the Pacific Crest Trail, but the upper portion of the road can still be traveled.
In this video we explore the road, check out 1860s road construction, railroad history, and what remains of the National Old Trails Road. We also do not see any rattlesnakes.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
