[3] It is traversed by California State Route 17, which runs from north to south through the pass,[1] and is the eastern terminus of California State Route 35, which runs along the ridgeline to the west of the pass and continues to the east as Summit Road.

[2] In the 18th century, a trail across the pass formed part of the historic El Camino Real connecting Mission Santa Clara de Asís with Mission Santa Cruz, likely along a route followed earlier by Native Americans.

[4] Lakes near the summit made the place a popular fishing and swimming spot until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused them to dry up.

[2] In 1940, State Route 17 replaced the Soquel San Jose Road through the pass;[2] the old alignment still crosses the pass, a short distance to the east of State Route 17, as the Old Santa Cruz Highway.

[6] The pass was historically called Cuesta de Los Gatos (Spanish for "Wildcat Ridge") by John C. Frémont, but the same name may refer more generally to that part of the Santa Cruz Mountains.