FOLLOW THE LANDSCAPE. DISCOVER THE STORY.

A little planning.
A richer journey.

Practical ideas for groups, curious travelers and memorable days out.
Header: Visit Cimarron National Grassland to experience the Santa Fe Trail. · NPS Photo · Public domain, NPS · Photo credits

Choose a chapter, not the whole map.

A national trail can span thousands of miles. For a satisfying day, choose a region, two or three related places and time to explore them properly.

Match the experience to your guests

Historic corridors are often networks of separate sites rather than continuous public paths. Check whether your chosen visit is a drive, a paved city walk, an uneven trail or an outing on the water.

Make room for more than one perspective

Seek interpretation from tribal nations and local communities as well as museums and park exhibits. Routes can hold stories of exchange and achievement alongside forced removal, war and dispossession.

Make the practical details easy

Confirm current access, admission, reservations, group parking and restrooms. Ask about steps, walking distances and surfaces. Arrange transport if a walk finishes somewhere different from where it begins.

Leave the traces intact

Use designated public routes, protect fragile ruts and archaeological places, and follow guidance at memorials and sacred sites.

Choose a state →