Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer was founded on January 7, 1781, by Spanish Padre Francisco Garcés, to protect the Anza Trail where it forded the Colorado River, between the Mexican provinces of Alta California and New Navarre. The settlement, located about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Yuma Crossing in present-day California, was not part of the Spanish California missions chain, but was administered as a part of the Arizona missions chain.