San Fernando Pass
| Newhall Pass | |
|---|---|
| San Fernando Pass, Fremont Pass, Beale's Cut | |
 Newhall Pass
Newhall Pass
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| Elevation | 750+ ft (229+ m) |
| Traversed by |
 I-5
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| Location | Los Angeles County, California |
| Range | Santa Susana Mountains/San Gabriel Mountains |
| Coordinates | 34°20′43″N 118°30′26″W / 34.34528°N 118.50722°WCoordinates: 34°20′43″N 118°30′26″W / 34.34528°N 118.50722°W |
| Topo map | Oat Mountain, CA |
Newhall Pass is a low mountain pass in Los Angeles County, California. Historically called Fremont Pass and San Fernando Pass, with Beale's Cut, it separates the Santa Susana Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains. Although the pass was originally discovered in August 1769 by Catalan explorer Gaspar de Portolà, it eventually was named for Henry Newhall, a significant businessman in the area during the 19th century.
Newhall Pass links the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Clarita Valley and is a main entry to the Greater Los Angeles area. The pass is known for the massive Newhall Pass interchange and the historic San Fernando Tunnel.
In the pass weather can vary from triple digit heat in the summer to below zero occasionally in winter. Snow is possible in December to February but is very rare. This causes heavy traffic and also accidents. The pass also can have heavy flooding in La Niña and El Niño events. Wildfires occasionally will occur near the pass and close down the California State Route 14.
Newhall Pass was initially named 'Fremont Pass' for General John C. Frémont, who was thought to have passed through it in 1847 on his way to sign the Treaty of Cahuenga, but he actually went slightly east of the pass on the El Camino Viejo.
In 1853, a Los Angeles businessman, Henry Clay Wiley installed a windlass atop the Fremont Pass to speed and ease the ascent and descent of the steep Santa Clara Divide. He also built a tavern, hotel and stable nearby. In 1854, Wiley sold out to Sanford and Cyrus Lyon and it began to be called Lyons Station. At the same time Phineas Banning obtained the business of supplying Fort Tejon.
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Wikipedia