the Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail starts in Missouri, and travels through modern-day Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. Missouri's forests and tall-grass turn into the Great Plains of Kansas. Herds of bison or Native American tribes were not uncommon.

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At the Arkansas River, the route branched into two. The Cimarron Cutoff saved nearly 10 days by crossing the Cimarron desert, but went near the territory of the Comanches, a native-american tribe that often threatened traders and settlers. It was also scarce in water, and left travelers very exposed to storms. This is why the safer, but longer Mountain Route was often used.

 

The Mountain Route crossed into Colorado, following the Arkansas River, then headed south along the mountains. It was over 100 miles longer, and crossing the mountainous Raton Pass was troublesome, but ultimately much safer. Both of these routes had more arid conditions than Missouri or Kansas.

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Towards the end of the trail, the two branches would rejoin and head south, then finally northwest to Santa Fe. Travelers would have crossed over 900 miles of dry, dangerous terrain, through dangerously hot summers or long, cold winters.