Father Escalante camped here on October 2, 1776. His exploring party of ten men, headed by Father Francisco Dominguez and map-maker Pacheco, preached to the Indians and charted a northern route between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Monterey, California. They named this valley “Valle Salado” (Valley of Salt). They traveled west near Clear Lake then east to a hillock, Pahvant Butte. Here they found marshes and much pasturage, but salt water.