Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe National Historic Trail traces the historic route of the 19th-century Santa Fe Trail, connecting Missouri and New Mexico. Travelers today can follow its remnants across what is now eastern Kansas, Colorado, and northern New Mexico, passing through open plains, high desert, and mountain passes — and exploring key historic sites and parks along the way.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | American Southwest |
| Subregion | South-Central United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | multiple |
| District | multiple |
| City | various |
| Neighborhood | various |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 38.5 |
| Longitude | -96.35 |
| Maps |
12:55 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Santa Fe National Historic Trail represents a key commercial and migration route that linked Missouri and the eastern United States to Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the early 19th century. Established by the U.S. government in the 1920s, the trail follows historic trading paths used by traders, emigrants, and military units — crossing vast Kansas plains, the high deserts of southern Colorado, and rugged mountain passes into northern New Mexico. Today, reconstructed routes, national historic sites, and interpretive trails allow travelers to trace the trail by car, bicycle, or on foot, while visiting historic trading towns, military forts, and natural landscapes that define its legacy.
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