Cahuenga Pass

The Cahuenga Pass (/kəˈwɛŋɡə/ ^ⓘ, /kəˈhʌŋ.ɡə/; Tongva: Kawé’nga),^[1] also known by its Spanish name Paseo de Cahuenga, is a low mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood Hills district of the City of Los Angeles, California. It has an elevation of 745 ft (227 m). The Cahuenga Pass connects the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley via U.S. Route 101 (Hollywood Freeway) and Cahuenga Boulevard. It is the lowest pass through the mountains.

Cahuenga Pass
Paseo de Cahuenga
Northbound US Route 101/Hollywood Freeway entering the Cahuenga Pass
Elevation	745 ft (227 m)
Traversed by	US 101 (Hollywood Freeway)
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States
Range	Santa Monica Mountains

History

Cahuenga Pass, c. 1888

Pacific Electric's San Fernando Line running in the median of Cahuenga Boulevard through the Caheunga Pass c. 1940.

Cahuenga Pass, 1972

The name Cahuenga comes from a Tongva village named Kawé’nga, probably meaning "at the mountain".

It was the site of two major battles: the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831 (a fight between local settlers and the Mexican-appointed governor and his men; two deaths), and the Battle of Providencia or Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1845 (between locals over whether to secede from Mexico; one horse and one mule killed).^[2] Both were on the San Fernando Valley side near present-day Studio City, and cannonballs are still occasionally found during excavations in the area.^[3] Along the route of the historic El Camino Real, the historic significance of the pass is also marked by a marker along Cahuenga Blvd. which names the area Paseo de Cahuenga.

See also

• Cahuenga Peak – Mountain in California, United States
• Campo de Cahuenga – Historic house in California, United States
• Rancho Cahuenga – Mexican land grant in California
• List of mountain passes in California
  • Cajon Pass
  • Escondido Summit
  • Newhall Pass
  • Soledad Pass
  • Tehachapi Pass
  • Tejon Pass & Old Tejon Pass