The trail enters Baca County at the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 33 {T29S R41W} at a point about fifty yards from the southern edge of the quarter. Next, then, it moves in a southwesterly direction across the south boundary into the southeast quarter of section 33 {T29S R41W} and across this quarter southwesterly to a point on the western edge, 100 yards north of the southern boundary. Now it enters the southwest quarter of section 33 {T29S R41W} and turning south, it moves across this quarter to a point on the southern edge about 100 yards from the eastern boundary.

     Here it moves into the northwest quarter of section 4 {T30S R41W}. From there it goes across this quarter to its western edge midway from its north and south edges where it moves into the northeast quarter of section 5 {T30S R41W} at about the center of its north to south boundary. It then goes southwest and south across the lower part of the quarter to a point approximately seventy-five yards from the western edge of the quarter where it drops into the northwestern corner of the southeast quarter of section 5 {T30S R41W}. Just after entering this quarter, about ten yards inside the boundary, the trail follows almost exactly the Santa Fe Railroad tracks and moves on west. The point where it meets the railroad is about one mile after it enters Baca County. The trail follows the railroad across the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 5 {T30S R41W} at a position about seventy-five yards from its northern edge. It follows the present tracks of the railroad on southwest across the quarter to a point approximately 100 yards from its southern edge on the western boundary where it enters the southeast quarter of section 6 {T30S R41W}. It travels along the southern edge of the quarter to a point seventy yards from the western edge of the quarter where it suddenly drops south across present highway 160 into the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 7 {T30S R41W}, as Bear Creek abruptly makes a jog southward.

     It turns again sharply west after entering this quarter and catches just the northwest corner before entering the northwest quarter of section 7 {T30S R41W} at a position about twenty yards from its northern boundary. It then goes southwesterly across this quarter to its southwestern corner, staying south of the present highway 160 through the quarter.

     After entering the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 12 {T30S R42W}, about fifteen yards from its southern edge, it joins with highway 160, some twenty yards after entering the quarter. Moving across the southeastern corner of the quarter, the route enters the southeast quarter of section 12 {T30S R42W} at a position about fifty yards from its eastern edge. It travels southwest across the northern part of the quarter and stays on the same track as present highway 160 . It goes into the southwest quarter of section 12 {T30S R42W} and travels approximately 400 yards into the center of the quarter to a place where the road intersects a dry creek.

     The trail then ventures slightly north, away from the highway, and moves west along the tracks through the rest of the quarter. It then enters the southeast quarter of section 11 {T30S R42W} along the same route as present railroad tracks and goes on along the southern portion of the quarter to a point 100 yards from the western edge of the quarter where the trails drops south, away from the railroad tracks and meets Highway 160 again. It moves west along this route with the highway, through the extreme northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 14 {T30S R42W}, and stays on the same route as the highway as it moves southwest across this quarter to its western boundary. At a point about 300 yards from the northern edge, the route moves into the northeast quarter of section 15 {T30S R42W} and follows a southwest route across the quarter to its western edge, approximately 250 yards from the southern border. The trail gradually turns into a more westerly one at this place and moves away from the highway to follow, once again the route of the Santa Fe Railroad tracks. It crosses the southern edge of the northwest quarter of section 15 {T30S R42W}, moving along the tracks and striking the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 16 {T30S R42W} about fifty yards from its southern edge, on its eastern border.

     Crossing the southeast corner of this quarter along the same route as the railroad tracks, the route then moves into the southeast quarter of section 16 {T30S R42W}, remaining parallel with the tracks for only about 100 yards, then goes along its northern edge and enters the southwest quarter of section 16 {T30S R42W} at a point about seventy-five yards from its northern boundary, on the eastern edge. It moves now to the western edge of the quarter about 150 yards from its northern edge and runs into the northern part of the southeast quarter of section 17 {T30S R42W}. The route moves almost due west through this quarter and on through the southwest quarter of section 17 {T30S R42W}, the southeast quarter of section 18 {T30S R42W}, and the southwest quarter of section 18 {T30S R42W}.

     As the trail moves into the southeast quarter of section 13 {T30S R43W}, it turns southwest and moves into the southwest corner of the quarter at a point approximately fifty yards from the southern edge, where it crosses into the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 13 {T30S R43W}. It just touches the extreme corner of this quarter and then travels into the northwest quarter of section 24 {T30S R43W}, where it turn more westerly and leaves this quarter, going into the northeast quarter of section 23 {T30S R43W} at a position approximately 200 yards from the northern edge. It travels across this quarter in a gentle southwesterly direction, to cross into the northwest quarter of section 23 {T30S R43W} at about the middle of the eastern edge of the quarter.

     Once into this quarter, the trail runs more southerly and crosses into the southeast portion of the northeast quarter of section 22 {T30S R43W}. At this point the Aubry Route is very close to Five Mile Water Hole. This water hole is on Bear Creek and was a significant stop on the trail. It moves into the southeast quarter of section 22 {T30S R43W} and travels in a south-southwest course to a point about 100 yards from the western edge of the quarter. It then runs into the western portion of the northeast quarter of section 27 {T30S R43W} and stays approximately 100 yards from the border on the west of the quarter, goes through it to the southern edge, and there turns slightly west and catches the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 27 {T30S R43W} before moving into the southwest quarter of section 27 {T30S R43W} at a point about thirty yards from its northern edge. It then runs along the eastern boundary of the quarter , gradually moving in a point a bit east of center of the quarter, where it then intersects the Santa Fe Rail Road tracks and Highway 160. [1] It crosses the tracks and the southern edge of the quarter, then goes into the northwest quarter of section 34 {T30S R43W}.

     The trail then runs gently south-southwest through the heart of this quarter into the southwest quarter of section 34 {T30S R43W}, through it, and into the northwest quarter of section 3 {T31S R43W}. There it runs on southwest across the middle of this quarter to a position approximately 150 yards from its southern edge. Here the route turns more southwest and moves out of this quarter in its western part, and catches the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 3 {T31S R43W}. The trail runs into the southeast quarter of section 4 {T31S R43W} about 100 yards from its northern border and then turns south to cross the quarter, going to a point about seventy-five yards from its western edge on the southern boundary. From there it moves across the edge and into the northeast quarter of section 9 {T31S R43W}. As the Aubry Trail goes across the corner of this quarter, it strikes the west boundary of the quarter and turns south and follows the line to a position about thirty yards from the southern edge of the quarter. There it travels on west and penetrates the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 9 {T31S R43W} and goes on into the southwest quarter of the section. It travels southwest across the southwest quarter of section 9 {T31S R43W} to a point a little west of center and then on into the northwest quarter of section 16 {T31S R43W} and down into the west part, hitting the east edge of the northeast quarter of section 17 {T31S R43W} at a point approximately 300 yards from the southern of the quarter. [2] It runs across the corner of the quarter to approximately its middle and then goes south into the southeast quarter of section 17 {T31S R43W}. Once inside this quarter, the Aubry Route turns more south and drops into the northwest quarter of section 20 {T31S R43W} near its center. It then moves southwest across this quarter to its extreme southwest corner, there to cross into the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 19 {T31S R43W}. It moves southwest across this quarter for about 400 yards when it turns abruptly south. It then stays approximately 200 yards to 300 yards east of the western edge of the quarter as it moves into and through the northeast quarter of section 30 {T31S R43W}, then the southeast quarter of section 30 {T31S R43W}, the northeast quarter of section 31 {T31S R43W}, the southeast quarter of section 31 {T31S R43W} and the northeast quarter of section 6 {T32S R43W}.

     The trail moves slightly to the west to about thirty yards away from the western edge of the quarter and stays at that approximate distance as it runs on to the southern boundary of that quarter. Then it runs into the southeast quarter of section 6 {T32S R43W} and moves gradually southeast and on into the northeast quarter of section 7 {T32S R43W} at about the center point on the northern edge of the quarter.

     It moves into the southeast quarter of section 7 {T32S R43W}, through it, and into the middle of the north edge of the northeast quarter of section 18 {T32S R43W}. There it goes more easterly on its still southern route in this quarter to a point approximately 150 yards from its eastern boundary. There it falls into the southeast quarter of section 18 {T32S R43W}. The Aubry Route moves farther to the east now as it goes through this quarter to about 100 yards away from its eastern edge. As it approaches the southern border of the quarter, it begins to bend to the west-southwest and as it touches the southern edge of the quarter it turns more sharply to the west and goes west-southwest across the northern edge of the northeast quarter of section 19 {T32S R43W}. After entering this quarter in its eastern half, it leaves it in its northwest corner, moving on into the northwest quarter of section 19 {T32S R43W} about thirty yards from its northern edge.

     Dropping slightly south, the route moves across this quarter to exit it and pass into the northeast quarter of section 24 {T32S R44W}, about 100 yards from its north boundary. Once in this quarter, the trail turns more southerly, goes across the quarter, and leaves it in its extreme southwest corner. Then it passes into the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 24 {T32S R44W} and runs diagonally across this quarter to exit in its southwest corner.

     Moving on southwest, the trail again cuts diagonally across the northeast quarter of section 26 {T32S R44W} to its southwest corner before entering the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 26 {T32S R44W} to its southwest corner before entering the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 26 {T32S R44W}. In this quarter the Aubry Trail turns more south and leaves the quarter approximately ninety yards from its western edge, across the southern edge. Dropping into the northwest quarter of section 35 {T32S R44W} it then moves slightly to the west. At a point about 200 yards into the quarter, the route crosses one of the many arroyas of southwest Colorado. This particular arroya is actually a tributary of the North Fork of the Cimarron River. The country is beginning to be quite rough in this area, probably veery hard on wagons which used the trail.

     The trail moves on southwest from the arroya and leaves the quarter about 1550 yards from the southern border,, through the western edge. It just penetrates the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 34 {T32S R44W} before entering the northeast corner of the south east quarter of section 34 {T32S R44W} and traveling southwest across the quarter to its southwest corner.

     There it crosses into the northwest quarter of section 2 {T33S R44W}. Once in the quarter the trail moves more westward, and then moves to the northeast quarter of section 3 {T33S R44W} at a point approximately 100 yards from its southern edge, through its eastern boundary.

     It then turns west-southwest and travels across the southern part of the quarter. At a point about thirty yards from the southern edge, and about 100 yards from the western edge, the trail crosses another dry arroya which is also tributary to the North Fork of the Cimarron River. Moving on from the arroya, the route crossed into the southeast quarter of section 3 {T33S R44W} and cuts across it into the southwest quarter of section 3 {T33S R44W} about forty yards from its northern edge through the eastern border. It urns southwest across the quarter to its southern edge. At a point approximately 300 yards after entering the quarter, the trail crosses another dry arroya tributary to the North Fork of the Cimarron and from this quarter the trail runs into the northwest quarter of section 10 {T33S R44W} and moves southwest across the quarter to its southwest corner. There it crosses into and across the very tip of the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 9 {T33S R44W} before moving into the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 9 {T33S R44W}. It crosses this quarter in a south-southwesterly direction to the center on the southern edge and then moves into the northeast quarter of section 16 {T33S R44W}. It runs southwesterly to its southwest corner and passes out at a point about fifteen yards from the southern edge on the west border. Then it is in the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 16 {T33S R44W}, and is crossing this corner into the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 16 {T33S R44W} where it turns more southerly and drops to the southern boundary of the quarter, about 200 yards from the eastern edge.

     It then crosses into the northwest quarter of section 21 {T33S R44W}. The trail moves southwesterly to a point approximately seventy-five yards from the western edge of the quarter on the southern boundary. About twenty-five yards from the southern edge of the quarter, the route crosses the North Fork of the Cimarron River. The crossing of the river was not particularly hard for Aubry's wagon trains as it was barren of trees and the banks are shallow. The hardest part came in the hills surrounding the river and in crossing the multitude of tributaries.

     After crossing out of this quarter and into the southwest quarter of section 21 {T33S R44W} the trail bends slightly westward and moves into the southeast quarter of section 20 {T33S R44W} approximately 300 yards from its southern edge. It then bends south-southwest again to move along the eastern edge of the quarter before turning towards the southern edge and going into the northeast quarter of section 29 {T33S R44W} about 150 yards from its eastern edge. Now the route drops in a southern direction through this quarter to its southern edge, a little west of the center of the quarter and moves on into the southeast quarter of section 29 {T33S R44W} where it moves almost due south to the southern boundary of the quarter.

     It next crosses into the northeast quarter of section 32 {T33S R44W} at a point approximately 175 yards from the western border. Immediately after crossing into this quarter the trail turns southwesterly again and crosses out of the quarter at it southwest corner, approximately fifteen yards from the southern edge. It moves into and across the extreme southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 32 {T33S R44W} before entering the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 32 {T33S R44W} and moves across it to its southern edge. it leaves this quarter on the southern boundary at a point about eight yards from its western edge.

     Now it crosses the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 5 {T34S R44W} before going on into the northeast quarter of section 6 {T34S R44W}, about ninety yards from the northern border. It crosses this quarter in a southwesterly direction to a position about 225 yards from the eastern edge on the southern boundary. Here it moves into the southeast quarter of section 6 {T34S R44W}, and goes across it to the southwest corner approximately fifteen yards from the western edge. Then it catches the extreme northwestern tip of the northeast quarter of section 7 {T34S R44W} before crossing on into the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 7 {T34S R44W}. The trail here enters the very rough country that marks the approach of the Cimarron River on both sides. The roughness is from the many tributaries.

     It moves diagonally across this section to its southwestern corner approximately twenty-five yards from its western edge on the southern border. Then it moves across the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 7 {T34S R44W} and on into the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 12 {T34S R45W}. Once in this quarter the trail turns more westerly than it has been running, but still generally moves in a southwestern course. Approximately 400 yards after entering this quarter the route comes to a dry tributary of the Cimarron River.

     Advancing on westward, the trail crosses into the southwest quarter of section 12 {T34S R45W} across its eastern border about 200 yards from the southern edge. It moves southwesterly along the southern part of the quarter to a point 275 yards from the western edge where it drops into the northwest quarter of section 13 {T34S R45W} and across it to a point approximately 200 yards from the northern boundary on the western edge of the quarter.

     There it crosses into the northeast quarter of section 14 {T34S R45W} and once into this quarter bends to the south to pass on out through the southern edge about in the middle. It moves into the southeast quarter of section 14 {T34S R45W}, where it turns slightly southeast in direction and goes across the southern border of the quarter, approximately 175 yards from its eastern edge. Now it runs into the northeast quarter of section 23 {T34S R45W} and runs more to the east to a point on its southern boundary about ten yards from the eastern edge. Now it runs into the northeast quarter of section 23 {T34S R45W} and runs more to the east to a point on its southern boundary about ten yards from the eastern edge. It drops into the southeast quarter of section 23 {T34S R45W}. The trail moves south, then staying this close to the eastern edge of the quarter. It runs to a point approximately seventy-five yards into the quarter where it turns westerly again and moves away from the boundary. Approximately 400 yards after leaving the eastern border of the quarter the trail crosses another of the dry tributaries of the Cimarron River. After the crossing, Aubry's Route continues south-southwesterly to the southern edge of the quarter, a little east of the middle, where it falls into the northeast quarter of section 26 {T34S R45W} and moves, still in a southwesterly fashion, through the quarter. After traveling for a distance, about 600 yards into the quarter, the trail crosses another dry tributary of the Cimarron River, and then moves on southwesterly to go into the southeast quarter of section 26 {T34S R45W} a little west of center. It proceeds in the same general direction to a point about 200 yards from the western edge of this quarter where it drops into the northeast quarter of section 35 {T34S R45W}, moving closer to the western boundary of this quarter. It comes to within seventy yards of the western edge at it southern extreme and drops into the southeast quarter of section 35 {T34S R45W} where it follows the same general route.

     Approximately 500 yards from the southern border the route crosses a dry arroya. After the crossing, the route enters the northeast quarter of section 2 {T35S R45W} and runs very close to the western border as it progresses through the quarter and into the northeast quarter of section 2 {T35S R45W} and through it then into the western portion of the northeast quarter of section 11 {T35S R45W}.

     Here the trail turns slightly west through the rough country and works its way across the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 11 {T35S R45W} and then on into the southwest quarter of section 11 {T35S R45W}. It moves diagonally across this quarter to the southwest corner, where it goes over into the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 14 {T35S R45W}. After going through this quarter the route crosses into the northeast quarter of section 15 {T35S R45W}. About 450 yards after entering this quarter the trail moves into the area of a dry creek, crosses it, and then turns south following a small canyon that actually is a Cimarron River tributary.

Footnotes

1. Today there is a feed yard at this point.
   
2. Here the Aubry Route intersects the state-county highway running south from Walsh, Colorado at a point about three miles out of Walsh.
   Used With Permisssion of the Author:
   E. P. Burr