In the days of the California Gold Rush, this was a major campground after Hudspeth's Cutoff brought the trail by here in 1849. Except in wet seasons, there was no water for 22 miles to the east. Parties often had to travel late into the night across that rough country to reach these two great springs and avoid the hardships of a dry camp. From here they had two more tough ranges to cross before reaching the new perils of the Humboldt and high Sierra. Their trail can still be seen winding up the hill to the west.