---
id: "2117"
name: South Platte River Trail
distance: "19"
duration: 30 minutes
description: Short in distance but long in history, this byway draws pioneer memories up out of the plains--wagon ruts from the move to the Great West, the peril of Indian attacks, big cattle drives, daring Pony Express riders, nearly forgotten outposts are all here.
path: wlcyFz`goROsh@SsEWsBg@{Bu@wBgg@ygA?g@y@cCo@cCcCgHoAwCbFuEbAm@tBc@fBH`Bh@|BbBh^bYtAr@|@RdBTvCAhB_@bAa@dBeA`~@un@lAtCxCjC`@j@dRfc@dAfBvTb[nZxh@jClFrHdSfB`Gx@pDnBnKb@dBhBrFtAtCxAvC|@nArTnYrCfEfChEfA~BzCdIpK~^pK~c@dKf^x@bETvD@~MEzhB[vfBZb`Co@tzCadADiq@f@_PLU_u@Xwc@^{PNco@Io|ANy_AOsHeAgHaAmDeB{DoAmBsAeBoOgQwJ{K{EaFat@cl@sS{Q_DsD{AeCy@mBo@qBi@oB[sBi@aGy@wjE
websites:
  - url: https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/northeast/so-platte-trail
    name: Colorado Byways
  - url: https://www.colorado.com/byways/south-platte-river-trail
    name: Colorado Travel Guide
  - url: https://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/plattetrail.html
    name: Colorado Vacation Directory
  - url: https://www.americanlegacytours.org/colorado/pawnee-pioneer-trails-road-trip/
    name: National Travel Center
  - url: https://www.thearmchairexplorer.com/colorado/south-platte-river-trail.php
    name: The Armchair Explorer
attractions:
  - url: https://www.rivertrailonline.org/
    name: The South Platte River Trail
designations:
  - Colorado State Scenic Byway
states:
  - CO
ll:
  - -102.27741200000003
  - 40.98268900000005
bounds:
  - - -102.38778699999995
    - 40.93874000000011
  - - -102.24809999999997
    - 40.99148900000006

---

Though it's the shortest of Colorado's twenty-one byways, the South Platte River Trail is long on history. Thousands of Fifty-Niners passed this way to Denver and the mines beyond in the early days of the Pikes Peak rush. The 19-mile loop includes stops at the site of the only Pony Express station in Colorado, where 15-year-old William F. Cody - Buffalo Bill - signed in as a rider; the location of old Fort Sedgwick, established in 1865 to guard westward migrants from Indian raids; and the spot where Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux warriors attacked a detachment of cavalrymen to avenge the Sand Creek Massacre. The route also follows the old Lincoln Highway, the first coast-to-coast automobile road in the United States.