Last updated: November 15, 2022
Thing to Do
Hike on the Santa Fe Trail
Walk on the Trail
Walk in the footsteps of history. Discover the same landscapes and imagine the hardships of those that have passed before you, as you look through their eyes on the same viewsheds. What is different? What is the same? Walking the trail is a different kind of hiking experience! In some places, the historic trail is a current modern-day hiking trail. In others, it could be a modern-day asphalt road. Experiences vary, so please check with individual locations for more details.
Check out one of these opportunities to walk the trail:
- Trails Greenway
- 9000 Old Santa Fe Road, Kansas City
- Trail Info: This 2,000-foot trail segment, located on the property of the Hickman Mills School District, begins just northeast of the district’s administration building. No ruts or swales are visible, and the exact route along this corridor is not precisely known, but it passes to the north of the building and follows a gently meandering route that ends near the corner of 91st Street and Old Santa Fe Road.
- Cimarron National Grassland
- This 108,175-acre grassland covers portions of Morton and Stevens counties in southwestern Kansas
- Trail Info: The Santa Fe Trail's Cimarron Route cuts diagonally through this grassland.
- Comanche National Grassland
- This vast grassland covers more than 440,000 discontinuous acres in southeastern Colorado
- Trail Info: Several Santa Fe Trail routes coursed through these grasslands, including the Mountain Route, the Granada-Ft. Union Wagon Road, and the Aubry Cutoff.
- Kiowa National Grassland
- The 137,000-acre grassland is located in two discrete units of northeastern New Mexico.
- Trail Info: Two miles of the Santa Fe Trail's Cimarron Route are located on the eastern unit of this grassland, about 15 miles north of Clayton.
Safety Considerations
For more location information: Places to Go on the Santa Fe Trail
Details
Activity
Hiking
Hiking and walking opportunities will vary by location. Please check with the individual site for more information.
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pets being allowed will vary by location. Please check with the individual site for more information.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
More Information & Directions
Missouri
Kansas
Colorado
New Mexico
Reservations
No
Accessibility Information
Accessibility information will vary by location. Please check with the individual site for more specific information. Services animals are allowed at all locations.