Horsethief Canyon
Horsethief Canyon in Summit Valley, San Bernardino County, CA, is historically significant due to its use by horse thieves in the 1840s. They raided Californian ranchos, gathering horses and using the canyon's strategic terrain to evade capture. Located near the summit of Cajon Pass, with an elevation ranging from 3,800 to 3,123 feet, it provided an ideal hideout. Its history is also linked to the California Gold Rush era, adding to its legacy as a refuge for outlaws. Key routes like California State Routes 138 and 173 pass through this historically rich area.
Raids on the California ranchos in the 1840s netted hundreds, sometimes even thousands of horses. They came here to Horsethief Canyon to collect and stage for the murderous journey across the desert. Smaller canyons, arroyos, and niches made strategic points to keep the vaqueros and defenders from the valleys below at bay.
