Santa Ana River
Santa Ana River
View of Santa Ana River near where Anza crossed on way to San Gabriel.

This current view of the Santa Ana River gives a incorrect impression of the historical river both Anza expeditions found difficult to cross. Today the dispersed river flow reflects current water management. The river area was described by Anza as a countryside "entirely distinct from the rest of America which I have seen; in the grasses and the flowers of the fields, and also in the fact that the rainy season is in the winter, it is very similar to Spain."

Courtesy of US National Park Service. Meredith Kaplan, Superintendent of Anza National Historic Trail.
Source: US National Park Service