Oak Creek Pass

Oak Creek Pass
Elevation	4,820 feet (1,470 m)
Traversed by	Tehachapi Willow Springs Road
Location
Location	Tehachapi, California,  United States
Range	Tehachapi Mountains
Coordinates	35°03′40″N 118°23′20″W / 35.061°N 118.389°W / 35.061; -118.389

Oak Creek Pass (elevation 4,820 feet (1,470 m)) is a mountain pass on the eastern side of the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California. It connects the City of Tehachapi with the Mojave Desert. It is also a California Historical Landmark, number 97.

The first European to use the pass was Francisco Garces, in 1776. He used it to return to the Mojave Desert after exploring the San Joaquin Valley. It was later used by Fremont during his exploration of the west from 1843-1844.^[1] Like Garces, he also used it to cross from the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert. It was the only route between Tehachapi and the Mojave Desert until 1876, when the railroad was built to the north through Tehachapi Pass.^[2] That route would also later be used by present day state route 58. Ironically, the railroad was built on the 100th anniversary of Garces first use of the pass.

References

1. ^ Oak Creek Pass. Office of Historic Preservation. Accessed: 04-20-2010.
2. ^ Oak Creek Pass. waymarking.com. Accessed: 04-20-2010.