Details

  • DesignationNational Scenic Byway (1998)
  • Intrinsic QualitiesHistoric
  • LocationCO, NM
  • Length182 of 565 total miles
Byway Visitor Information
Santa Fe Trail Organization
Statewide Byway Partners
Colorado Department of Transportation
Colorado Tourism
Bent's Old Fort
Tony Oliver Photo

Overview

One of America's first great trade routes, the Santa Fe Trail was critical to our country's westward expansion. Visit historic sites and landmarks like Bent's Fort, Trinidad, Raton Pass, Cimarron, Fort Union, Pecos, Point of Rocks, and Santa Fe. Enjoy spectacular scenery, from rugged mountains to the plains.

Local Byway Partners
  • Care for Colorado Coalition

Story of the Byway

One of America's first great trade routes, the Santa Fe Trail was critical to our country's westward expansion. Visit historic sites and landmarks like Bent's Fort, Trinidad, Raton Pass, Cimarron, Fort Union, Pecos, Point of Rocks, and Santa Fe. Enjoy spectacular scenery, from rugged mountains to the plains.

Driving Directions

The New Santa Fe Trail starts in Independence, Missouri and ends in Santa Fe, New Mexico; the Colorado portion extends from Lamar to Trinidad. From Lamar, follow US-50W and US-350W for 136 miles to Trinidad.

Points of Interest

  • Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

    Bent's Old Fort is an 1833 fort located in Otero County in southeastern Colorado. The fort was originally built by Charles Bent, William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain to trade with Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Plains Indians and trappers for buffalo robes.

  • Comanche National Grasslands

    Comanche National Grassland, located in southeastern Colorado, contains both prairie grasslands and canyons; the sister grassland of Cimarron National Grassland.

  • John Martin Reservoir State Park

    John Martin Reservoir is a reservoir on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado.

  • Raton Pass

    Ratón Pass is a 7,834 ft elevation mountain pass on the Colorado–New Mexico border in the western United States.

Itinerary

  • Lamar to La Junta

    Day 1
    Start your day early in La Junta with a hike in the Vogel Canyon Recreation Area. Follow the trails to a historic stage coach station, or hike the loops to view rock art. Return to town for a hearty lunch, then take your time at the Koshare Indian Museum. At night, enjoy dinner at a saloon or music at The Railyard before retiring.

    Day 2
    After breakfast, head to Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site to learn about the fur trade along this mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. En route to Lamar, stop at the John W. Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum and the Boggsville Historic Site. Settle into a hotel in Lamar before enjoying a show at the Lamar Theatre. The next morning, head to the Sand Creek Massacre Historic Site to learn more about the history of this area.

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