An important junction of the Old Spanish Trail stood at Saguache, where both the east and west forks of the North Branch converged before continuing west of Cochetopa Pass and on to Los Angeles. The Old Spanish Trail was the principal mule pack route for explorers and traders until 1848, later evolving into a wagon road and then a modern highway. Associated with this trail were early pathfinders Juan Batista de Anza, 1736-1788; Antionie Robidoux, 1794-1860; Christopher "Kit" Carson, 1809-1868; John W. Gunnison, 1812-1853; John C. Fremont, 1813-1890; Ute Chief Ouray, 1833-1880; and John Lawrence, 1835-1908.