Route 1, like other early-region routes, is lined with trees, and features low-level Pokémon in its long grass. The player first ventures through Route 1 with his or her friends Cheren and Bianca, who take the starter Pokémon whose type is strong against and weak against the type of the player's choice, respectively. The western area of the route leading to Route 17 is blocked off by the sea, meaning the player must first acquire Surf to gain access to this part. Due to this the Pokémon and trainers over in the western area are of a higher level than those to the east.
Over the course of the separate seasons, there are only color palette changes to the grass, trees and flowers, with no areas being accessible or blocked due to the changes.
The Spa Resort on Route 1
Route 1 made its first appearance in Enter Iris and Axew!. In its anime incarnation, it is a forest route with a small lake; mountains surround the route. There is a nearby Pokémon Center and Poké Mart. As he traveled through the route, Ash met Iris and her Axew picking fruit. He tried to catch one of the Deerling native to the area, but failed. In a nearby cave, Jessie, James and TRMeowth ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) received orders from Giovanni and encountered a flock of Woobat, one of which Jessie caught offscreen. The next day Ash encountered a flock of Pidove; the flock flew away except for one, which Ash caught.
In A Sandile Gusher of Change! there was shown to be a nearby spa resort. This resort is famous for its sand bath, but had to close down because of a group of Sandile was disturbing the customers. The route also hosted a mountainous section which produced geysers. These trapped the Pokémon living around the area, but, with the help of the Sandile, the Pokémon were saved. The geysers flooded the valley and the spa resort reopened, now as a hot spring.
