While more Settlers traveled the Oregon and California Trails, it was the Santa Fe Trail that tamed the prairie. Military forts along the Trail provided the backing and support of the U.S. Government, and subdued and relocated the native peoples of the plains and the Southwest. By the 1870's the barons of commerce turned their eyes to the railroads after the first Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad train reached Santa Fe. The story of the Santa Fe Trail is not a long chapter in the history of the West, but there is no question it is an important and enduring chronicle in America's advance to become a great nation.
Relive the adventures of early stagecoach passengers at the first station for westbound travelers. Built in 1857 by farmer J.B. Mahaffie, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop is the last remaining stop open to the public on the Santa Fe Trail. You can tour the house with its two-foot-thick native limestone walls, as well as the wood peg barn and two-story icehouse.
As the only campsite in the nation where the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails converged Lone Elm Park, see this frontier campground where Kit Carson once slept. Wagon trains, “dragoons” (cavalry soldiers from Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth) and many others made use of this ideally situated camping spot.
Olathe to Gardner - 11 miles (18 km) southwest on I-35 & US-56
Gardner
Thousands of people traveling west in the mid-19th century made a decision when they reached a trail junction in Kansas, near present-day Gardner. The trail to Santa Fe was to the southwest the trail to Oregon and California was to the northwest. The choice of trail and direction reflected not only their destinations, but their dreams for the future. Visit Gardner Junction Park, which is a part of the national Park Service and features interpretive displays and a walking trail.
Gardner to Baldwin City - 16 miles (26 km) west on US-56
Baldwin City
Plan a stop at Black Jack Park. Murals, maps and artifacts inside the replica cabin help recall the days of the Santa Fe Trail and the Battle of Black Jack.
Take the footbridge over to view actual wagon ruts left by wagon trains at the Ivan Boyd Prairie Reserve. This is one of the best sites remaining to see the actual ruts carved into the virgin sod from the historic Santa Fe Trail.
Enjoy a rustic, family atmosphere complete with home cooking at the Wooden Spoke Restaurant. Live entertainment is often featured on the weekends.
Baldwin City to Council Grove - 79 miles (132 km) southwest on US-56
Council Grove
Council Grove and the Santa Fe Trail are so intertwined it is nearly impossible to recognize one without recognizing the other. Take a Self-Guided Tour of more than 24 historic sites on the Santa Fe Trail.
See the Council Oak, where the US Government and the Osage Indian Chiefs signed a treaty guaranteeing safe passage to all traveling the Santa Fe Trail through Osage territory.
Known as the Post Office Oak, learn how this massive Bur Oak tree served as an “unofficial office” as passing west-bound wagon trains would drop mail destined for the eastern US in a natural cache at the base of this tree.
Take a look inside the Last Chance Store and view some of the needed supplies that were purchased by travelers before departing for the 625 mile trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Enjoy a made-from-scratch lunch in a Victorian setting at the 1861 Santa Fe Trail landmark Trail Days Bakery and Café in Historic Terwilliger Home. This was the last house on the Santa Fe freighters passed as they proceeded to travel west leaving Council Grove.
Pay your respects at the Madonna of the Trail. This monument was erected to recognize and honor the “Pioneer Mothers of the Covered Wagon Days”, the hardy women who made the long and sometimes dangerous trips along the Santa Fe and other National Old Trails Roads.
Take a stroll along the Neosho Riverwalk, which surrounds the most documented river crossing on the Santa Fe Trail. The actual Neosho River crossing by early wagon trains is identified on the east bank along the walkway.
Enjoy dinner in the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi, Hays House 1857 Restaurant & Tavern. Patrons rave about its skillet fried chicken, crunch-chicken salad and fresh strawberry pie.
Council Grove to Canton - 72 miles (116 km) west on US-56
Canton
Step back in time to the 1800s for a unique prairie tour aboard a modern day covered wagon at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. The tram tour features buffalo up close and personal, native wildflowers and native grasses.
Canton to McPherson - 14 miles (22 km) west on US-56
McPherson
Curb your appetite with a specialty sandwich or soup in a bread bowl at Main Street Deli. Then top off your meal with a bakery tread made from scratch daily.
McPherson to Lyons - 30 miles (48 km) west on US-56
Lyons
Learn more about the Santa Fe Trail, Wichita Indians, Coronado’s 1541 journey north, and rural America 1902 at the Coronado Quivira Museum.
Lyons to Chase - 8 miles (14 km) west on US-56
Chase
Some of the most well known swales on the Santa Fe Trail can be viewed at Ralph’s Ruts. Looking east, you’ll see a series of swales, a set of small hills and valleys, in the natural prairie. These are the prominent Santa Fe Trail ruts that wagons, mules and oxen carved the trail into the sandy soil creating the valleys.
Chase to Ellinwood - 13 miles (21 km) west on US-56
Ellinwood
Explore the German-Austrian heritage featured in the architecture of Main Street buildings in the unique Ellinwood Tunnels, including a barber, a bath shop, and a harness shop, all connected by a series of underground tunnels. These shops date from the earliest days of the city, 1887, and at one time ran throughout the entire business district.
Ellinwood to Great Bend - 10 miles (17 km) west on US-56
Great Bend
Experience a little taste from the border at Delgado's Mexican Restaurant. You’ll find outstanding Mexican food featuring top-notch pork chili and hot sauce.
Take the self-guided walking tour of the Kansas Quilt Walk in Downtown Lafayette Park. The Santa Fe Trail site has 7 historic quilt patterns built into the sidewalk.
Because the area that is now Barton County played a major role in the history of the Santa Fe Trail, the Barton County Historical Society Museum & Village serves as an official interpretive site. See the collections and displays that illustrate life in the Native American villages, the trading posts, Fort Zarah and the coming of European settlement.
Great Bend to Pawnee Rock - 15 miles (24 km) southwest on US-56
Pawnee Rock
Enjoy a panoramic view of an area once considered the most dangerous point on the Trail. The Pawnee Rock State Historic Site was a prominent landmark to travelers on the Santa Fe Trail as Native Americans were said to have met at Pawnee Rock and reputedly used it as a vantage point to spot bison herds and approaching wagon trains.
Pawnee Rock to Larned - 8 miles (14 km) southwest on US-56
Larned
Grab a bite to eat at Meyer Deli & Crafts. This family owned deli shop features homemade sandwiches, bread, soups, pie and extra large cinnamon rolls. Homemade craft and wood items decorate the store and are available for purchase.
Certified as the official interpretive stop on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, the Santa Fe Trail Center is a unique educational institution devoted to the interpretation of the historic transportation route. You will see artifacts and manuscripts related to the blending of the major cultures which will enhance your understanding of the continued development of the Trail.
Built to protect travelers along the Santa Fe Trail, the Fort Larned National Historic Site is said to be one of the best preserved vestiges of the Santa Fe Trail-Indian wars era. Tour the nine authentically restored and refurnished buildings including the barracks, commissary, officer’s quarters, blacksmith shop, quartermaster’s storehouse and more.
Larned to Dodge City - 62 miles (99 km) southwest on US-56
Dodge City
For dinner, enjoy one of Kansas’ famous steaks among the beautiful stained-glass collection at Casey's Cowtown Club.
Tour Visit places where history was made along the Santa Fe Trail, Fort Dodge, other Old West locations and cattle stockyards on a narrated Dodge City Historic Trolley Tour.
Stop in at the Kansas Heritage Center, which is a great resource library on Kansas, Great Plains, Santa Fe Trail, Cattle Trails and Old West history as well as a gift shop.
Head over to the Santa Fe Depot Freight House. Eat lunch at the Central Station Club and Grill, which features a railroad theme, complete with a dining car, railroad memorabilia and more!
West of Dodge City, you can stand upon the Santa Fe Trail Tracks of the original wagon trail used by the pioneers from 1821 to 1872. These are the best continuous stretch of clearly defined ruts along the trail in Kansas.
Dodge City to Cimarron - 19 miles (30 km) west on US-50/400
Cimarron
Cimarron Crossing Park is the half way point of the Santa Fe Trail. The historical marker located here tells about the Cimarron route of the Santa Fe Trail. **The trail splits here into the Cimarron Route & the Mountain Route. The Cimarron Route was the shortest and the original wagon route, but water was hard to find. The Mountain Route was longer and more difficult, but considered safer.
Cimarron to Garden City - 33 miles (54 km) west on US-50/400
***Mountain Route
Garden City
The Santa Fe Trail followed the north side of the Arkansas River from the Cimarron crossing, part of which wound through what is now Finnup Park and Lee Richardson Zoo. Take time to appreciate the beautifully landscaped area that features over 300 animals.
Tour the rare sandsage prairie for a close-up view of the bison at the Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area. Enjoy the tram ride amongst the 3,000 acres of natural prairie on the Santa Fe Trail that has never been plowed for farming.
Garden City to Ulysses - 53 miles (85 km) south on US-83 & west on US-160
***Cimmaron Route
Ulysses
As an official interpretive site for the Santa Fe Trail, view a freight wagon loaded with trade goods and special exhibits about the Trail at the Historic Adobe Museum Complex. Also featured are an old adobe building that was built in 1938 and Hotel Edwards, where you will feel as if you have stepped back in time.
For lunch stop in for some Mexican cuisine at El Ranchito.
Ulysses to Elkhart - 62 miles (100 km) south on K-25 & southwest on US-56
Elkhart
Twenty-three miles of the Santa Fe Trail crosses the 108,000 acres of the Cimarron National Grassland. Today you can still see ruts and the site where freight wagons camped at Middle Spring and used Point of Rocks as lookout point from 1821-1880. With a beautiful view of the surrounding area, Point of Rocks is just one of the many stops in the Grassland that will take your breath away
Before leaving Kansas, check out the Morton County Historical Museum, which serves as an official interpretive facility of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. It features a Santa Fe Trail Room with original artifacts found on the Trail, a large freight wagon set in a prairie scene and murals painted by Charles Goslin.
