---
id: "2287"
name: Santa Fe Trail
distance: "565"
duration: 12 hours to drive the entire byway
description: 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.
path:
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  - "}fqyE`pv_SnNtFvMjF"
organization:
  - url: https://santafetrail.org/explore/
    name: Santa Fe Trail Association
websites:
  - url: https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/southeast/santa-fe-trail
    name: Colorado Byways
  - url: https://www.colorado.com/byways/santa-fe-trail
    name: Colorado Travel Guide
  - url: https://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/santafe.html
    name: Colorado Vacation Directory
  - url: https://nsbfoundation.com/nb/santa-fe-trail-national-scenic-byway/
    name: National Scenic Byway Association
  - url: https://www.americanlegacytours.org/colorado/santa-fe-trail-road-trip/
    name: National Travel Center
  - url: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/03e6d455024b42129d9cb1ea087211b0#ref-n-Cv5vuU
    name: New Mexico Scenic Byways Program
  - url: https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/scenic-byways/santa-fe-trail-national/
    name: New Mexico Travel Guide
  - url: https://www.thearmchairexplorer.com/national_trails/santa-fe-trail.php
    name: The Armchair Explorer
attractions:
  - url: https://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm
    name: Capulin Volcano National Monument
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/carson
    name: Carson National Forest
  - url: https://www.nps.gov/foun/index.htm
    name: Fort Union National Monument
  - url: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/las-vegas
    name: Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/monte-vista
    name: Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.santafe.org/
    name: Santa Fe
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe
    name: Santa Fe National Forest
  - url: https://www.nps.gov/safe/index.htm
    name: Santa Fe National Historic Trail
designations:
  - National Scenic Byway
states:
  - CO
  - NM
includes:
  - "2083"
  - "2115"
ll:
  - -104.97995000039208
  - 35.80830000014504
bounds:
  - - -105.93821700021425
    - 35.39231100015269
  - - -102.04463199999992
    - 38.11631000000011

---

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.