The central route of the old Spanish path passed northwest from Santa Fe, crossing the southwestern part of Colorado, after the San Juan, Mancos and Dove Creek. He went into Utah with Monticello and moved north through the difficult terrain of the Spanish Valley, and near Moab across the Colorado River. It continued towards the Northwest to later cross the dangerous Green river near the present Green River.
The route continued through (and around) San Rafael Swell, the northernmost stretch of the trail. Entering the Great Nevada Basin through the Salina Canyon, it turned southwestward across the southern part of present-day Nevada (near Las Vegas) and the Mojave Desert before reaching Mission San Gabriel Archangel and The Pueblo of Los Angeles in California.
There were also alternative routes through downtown Colorado and the Arizona Strip.