Discover Colton: Agua Mansa, city history, and a cycling route
Accommodation in Colton
Colton offers two distinct areas of interest for planning a trip: traces of the early Agua Mansa settlement and the city’s development during the railroad era, as well as the Santa Ana River Trail, a designated cycling route. If you’re looking for hotels in Colton, these topics can help you choose a destination that suits your interests. The historical connections, street layouts, and paths provide concrete points of reference to help you choose where to go.
The History of Agua Mansa and Colton
In 1845, Don Juan Bandini, owner of the Jurupa Rancho, gave part of his ranch to a group of colonists from New Mexico. A major flood swept away the adobe village of Agua Mansa in 1862. Agua Mansa Cemetery is one of the few surviving physical links to the early Agua Mansa settlement in Colton.
Hermosa Gardens Cemetery was established in 1887 and designated Historical Landmark No. 31 in 1993. Morgan Earp, an American lawman of the Old West, was reinterred there on November 29, 1892. The dates mark distinct points in time: the reinterment took place five years after the cemetery was established, and the landmark designation came in 1993.
The Earp House connects Colton’s development during the railroad era with local and Western American history. A traditional street grid dating back to the city’s layout during the railroad era in 1875 remains in downtown Colton and the city’s southern district. The city’s history is reflected both in a named historical connection and in the street structure of two areas.
A 2024 description notes that the Colton Area Museum features historical artifacts and outreach programs to promote awareness of the history of the Colton region.
The Santa Ana River Trail and Routes Through the City
The Santa Ana River Trail is fully paved and designated as a Class 1 bike path for cyclists of all ages. In Colton, it runs for more than six miles between the Riverside County border to the west and the city of San Bernardino to the east.
The Colton Staging Area provides access to the trail at the corner of La Cadena Drive and Tropica Rancho Road, just south of the Santa Ana River. The details serve different planning purposes: the trail length gives you a sense of its scope, while the named intersection helps you identify the access point described.
The Downtown Colton Paseo serves as a pedestrian connection and gathering place. It is intended to encourage walking, cycling, and public transit use. Special event applications for events at the Paseo are available at the Gonzales Community Center. Separately, the size of the city’s park system is also clearly quantified: Colton’s Parks Division maintains 12 city parks totaling 49.56 acres.
Practical Information
Published hours for the gates at Hermosa Gardens Cemetery are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily; the gates are locked at closing for security reasons. Check the gate hours before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Loma Linda, Redlands, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, Crestline, Phelan, Yucca Valley, Blue Jay
For the broader travel overview: San Bernardino.
