Keepers of the Trail
by Wyvonne Graham
The Santa Fe Trail served as a
trade route between Missouri and the
Mexican frontiers from 1821 to 1880.
The Mountain Branch was traveled
by caravans of traders, often with four
horses abreast. Although the Mountain
Branch was 100 miles longer than the
Cimarron Route, and the climb over
Raton Pass was difficult, the Mountain
Route was preferred since water
was more accessible and it was less
vulnerable to Indian attacks. In 1987,
the Santa Fe Trail was designated by
Congress as a National Historic Trail. In
1998, it became National Scenic Byway.
In 2003 the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and
Historic Byway - Mountain Branch
became a 501C-3 nonprofit organized
to increase recognition and appreciation
of the multi-cultural heritage in our
communities.
Our mission is to preserve, protect,
and promote resources and historic
sites for future generations. We provide
Santa Fe Trail traveler information
through brochures, a website, and
a visitor’s guide that is available at
the Colorado Welcome Centers in
Trinidad and Lamar. We also provide
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site enhancements through interpretive
signage at scenic pullouts, historic sites,
and visitor centers. The Byway leads the
effort to have its distinctive collection
of Santa Fe Trail Communities, their
stories and treasured places become
recognized and valued. In 2009, the
Byway was recognized by the American
State Highway Transportation Officials
(ASHTO) and received their Award
for Marketing Excellence and Roberta
Cordova was honored with the
Leadership Excellence award.
Travelers visit the Santa Fe Trail
today to discover the magic and retrace
authentic steps taken by merchants
and traders from Missouri to Santa Fe.
Recreate life along the Trail by visiting
Colorado’s historic trading posts like
Bent’s Old Fort and Boggsville; stage
coach stops, visible wagon ruts, graves,
ruins of Trail-era ranches, statues and
monuments commemorating famous
characters of the west. Get started at the
Byway Visitors Center at the Trinidad
History Museum and tour the Baca
House, Bloom Mansion, and the Santa
Fe Trail Museum.
Comanche National Grassland
is home to North America’s largest
dinosaur track site and Historic
Rourke Ranch can be explored on
self-guided tours or guided four-wheel
drive tours. The region was home to
Native Americans, Spanish explorers,
pioneer traders, miners, and Victorian
merchants. Today’s travelers can explore
the trail’s history on the auto tour of
the Santa Fe Trail. The trail follows the
shores of the Arkansas and Purgatoire
Rivers of Southeast Colorado. Look
closely on a clear day and you can see
wide bands of wagon tracks across the
prairie, particularly during the spring
when the vegetation in the ruts is a
different color than the surrounding
prairie.
Our rich heritage and culture can be
seen in the historic architecture of the
Corazon de Trinidad National Historic
District. The Santa Fe Trail goes through
the brick streets of Trinidad, through
quaint rural farm towns and the cities of
Lamar, La Junta, and Las Animas, all of
which have wonderful historic buildings
that tell the stories of merchants,
cattlemen, railroad developers, and
miners. Men and women built empires
from the Santa Fe Trail. Historic figures
like Kit Carson, the Bent brothers, Bat
Masterson and Billy the Kid add to its
Wild West charm. History is plentiful
and provides a romantic backdrop
along this 184-mile corridor of culture
and beauty of the Wild West. The Santa
Fe Trail beckons you to explore the wide
variety of adventure and recreational
opportunities in water sports, hiking,
biking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and
hunting. Some our Nation’s most
treasured secrets still lie here on the
Mountain Branch.
New legends magazine