USGS Aerial Photographs
"Santa Fe Trail Sites"
"Spot Light in
November 2000"
Microsoft Feature Article 2004
"Exploring History With Microsoft Research Maps"
"Editor of Microsoft Research Dot Com"
"Article on Microsoft Research Maps"
"Microsoft Research Map Site"
Shut Down May 1, 2012!
"Map & Mileage of the Santa Fe Trail"
We still have many of the aerial photo links for most of the major sites and trail ruts on the Santa Fe Trail, from Franklin, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The links below have been divided into sections to help find a certain site you may be looking for.
This Page Has All Site Links On It.
1. The Main Route Franklin, Mo. to Pawnee Rock KS - 40 links
2. Wet/Dry Route-Ft Hays/Ft Dodge Road Pawnee Rock to Dodge City, Ks. - 114 links
3. Mountain Route Dodge City, KS to Fort Union, NM - 18 links
4. Cimarron Route Arkansas River to Santa Fe, New Mexico - 22 links
5. Forts Associated With The Santa Fe Trail 21 links
The links on this page will take you to a web page with about a one and four mile square USGS Photo of the site. Also on that page you will find a little history about the site, information on just what you are looking for in the USGS photo. In most of the photo's you will be able to pick out the Santa Fe Trail Ruts, forts and other places of intrest. Look for the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter markers above on the Wet/Dry Routes pages. The one on the left is the limestone post marker and the one on the right is the interpretive marker with a limestone marker just like the Chapter used on the marked sites. These Santa Fe Trail Markers will be real close to where the real marker is in most photo's. On a few of the photo's the marker has been moved over as not to cover up the ruts that are visiable in the photo.
The second link has been removed because of the closing of "Microsoft Research Maps Site" by Microsoft. At the TerraServer site you would have seen a USGS photo that is about four miles square. From this photo you were able to move in eight different direction, zoom in and out. Also on that page there was a link to a topographical map of the site.
This really pains us to not have this tool to research the Santa Fe Trail. We spent hundreds if not thousands of hours putting these pages togethere. This is the third time we've had to change the complete site because of a doman change. As luck would have it we have saved many of the maps to our site, but not the whole trail as before. We are very sorry for this inconveniences, as this page by far was one of the most popular!!! We will leave up what we have.
We would like to "Thank Microsoft" and the staff for the use of their Photo's and the "Great Job" they did at Microsoft Research Maps.
Microsoft did a feature article and mentioned our old site from the links at the top of the page.
"Online Database of Santa Fe Trail Sites"
Main Trail From Franklin, Mo. to Pawnee Rock Ks.
- Old Franklin, Missouri Howard County, Missouri
- New Franklin, Missouri Howard County, Missouri
- Fort Osage Jackson County, Missouri
- Elm Grove Campground Johnson County, Kansas
- Lone Elm Campground Johnson County, Kansas
- Santa Fe Trail & Oregon Trail Junction Johnson County, Kansas
- Black Jack Park Douglas County, Kansas
- Baldwin City, Kansas Ruts Douglas County, Kansas
- Palmyra Town Site Douglas County, Kansas
- Rock Spring Campground Osage County, Kansas
- Overbrook, Kansas Cemetery Rut Osage County, Kansas
- Flag Spring Osage County, Kansas
- Santa Fe High School Osage County, Kansas
- Osage State Fishing Lake Ruts Osage County, Kansas
- McGee -- Harris Stage Station Osage County, Kansas
- Burlingame Kansas Osage County, Kansas
- Havana Stage Station Osage County, Kansas
- Wilmington, Kansas & School Site Wabaunsee County, Kansas
- Seth Hays Stone Barn Morris County, Kansas
- Samuel Hunts Grave Site Morris County, Kansas
- Council Grove, Kansas Morris County, Kansas
- Diamond Springs, Kansas Morris County, Kansas
- Six Mile Crossing & Stage Station Morris County, Kansas
- Lost Springs, Kansas Marion County, Kansas
- Tampa, Kansas Marion County, Kansas
- Cottonwood Crossing Durham, Kansas Marion County, Kansas
- Durham Ruts SW of Durham, Kansas Marion County, Kansas
- Schmidt Farm Rut Marion County, Kansas
- Ed Miller Grave Site McPherson County, Kansas
- 1825 Kaw Treaty Site McPherson County, Kansas
- Little Arkansas Crossing Rice County, Kansas
- Chavez Creek Crossing Rice County, Kansas
- Cow Creek Crossing Rice County, Kansas
- Walter Sharp Ruts South of Chase, Kansas Rice County, Kansas
- Richard Proffitt Farm South of Chase, Kansas Rice County, Kansas
- George Sieker Ruts Two Miles West of Chase, Kansas Rice County, Kansas
- Ralph's Ruts Rice County, Kansas
- Fort Zarah Barton County, Kansas
- Pawnee Rock Barton County, Kansas
- Fort Larned Pawnee County, Kansas
The Directory of Santa Fe Trail Sites
Wet/Dry Routes - Pawnee Rock to Dodge City, Kansas
Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road
The Survey Route
(7.7 miles)
- August 30, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Pawnee County, Kansas
- August 31, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Pawnee County, Kansas
The Pre Wet Route
(4.8 miles)
- Ash Creek Crossing Pawnee County, Kansas
The Wet Route of the Santa Fe Trail
(93.3 miles)
- Parker's Ranche Pawnee County, Kansas
- Pawnee Fork Crossing Pawnee County, Kansas
- Sibley's Ridge Pawnee County, Kansas
- Coon Creek Crossing Pawnee County, Kansas
- Plain Camp Pawnee County, Kansas
- Love's Defeat Pawnee County, Kansas
- Battle of Coon Creek Edwards County, Kansas
- September 3, 1825 Campsite Edwards County, Kansas
- Gartung Rut Edwards County, Kansas
- Burr Ruts #1 Edwards County, Kansas
- Burr Ruts #2 Edwards County, Kansas
- Schaller Ruts #1 Edwards County, Kansas
- Schaller Ruts #2 Edwards County, Kansas
- Wetzel Ruts #1 Edwards County, Kansas
- Little Pond Edwards County, Kansas
- Wetzel Ruts #2 Edwards County, Kansas
- Sept. 4, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Edwards County, Kansas
- Wetzel Ruts #3 Edwards County, Kansas
- Stewart Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Tilley Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Sept. 5, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Ford County, Kansas
- Black Pool Campsite Ford County, Kansas
- Fowler Ruts #1 Ford County, Kansas
- Herrman Ruts #1 Ford County, Kansas
- Riegel Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Point of Inception/Lower Crossing Ford County, Kansas
- Sept. 6-8, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Ford County, Kansas
- Herrman Ruts #2 Ford County, Kansas
- Small Drain Ford County, Kansas
- Jackson's Island Ford County, Kansas
- Junction of The Wet Route with The Dry Route Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Dodge, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Sept. 9, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Mann, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Atkinson, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- The Caches Ford County, Kansas
The Post Wet Route of the Santa Fe Trail
(5.1 miles)
- Point of Rocks Ford County, Kansas
- Lower Crossing Ford County, Kansas
- Sept. 10, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Ford County, Kansas
The Pre-1859 Dry Route of the Santa Fe Trail
Original Dry Route
(74.3 miles)
- Fork in the Santa Fe Road Pawnee County, Kansas
- Jones Point Pawnee County, Kansas
- Welch Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Hogan Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Olsen Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Hillside Cemetery Rut Kinsley, Kansas Edwards County, Kansas
- Big Coon Creek Crossing Kinsley, Kansas Edwards County, Kansas
- Stegman Rut Ford County, Kansas
- McKee Rut Ford County, Kansas
- Moritz Rut Ford County, Kansas
- The Caches Ford County, Kansas
The Post-1859 Dry Route of the Santa Fe Trail
(88.3 miles)
- Eastern Terminus of the Later Dry Route Pawnee County, Kansas
- Jost Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Lewis Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Larned Cemetery Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Pawnee Fork Crossing Pawnee County, Kansas
- Parker/Boyd Ranche Pawnee County, Kansas
- Eikmeier Rut Pawnee County, Kansas
- Rock Hollow Pawnee County, Kansas
- Meckfessel Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Zedren Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Carlson Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Hermann Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Big Coon Creek Crossing Kinsley, Kansas Edwards County, Kansas
- Robl Ruts Edwards County, Kansas
- Dinner Station Ford County, Kansas
- Baskett Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Indiek Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Kasselman Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Torline Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Arroyo Blanco Ford County, Kansas
- Herman/Heskamp Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Little Coon Creek Crossing Ford County, Kansas
- Slattery Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Junction of The Later Dry Route with The Wet Route Ford County, Kansas
The Fort Larned Military Road
(6.3 miles)
- Fort Larned Pawnee County, Kansas
- National Park Service Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- Coon Creek Crossing Pawnee County, Kansas
- Fort Larned Military Road Junction with Wet Route Pawnee County, Kansas
The Post-1866 Dry Route of the Santa Fe Trail
(9.5 miles)
- Eastern Terminus of the The Post-1866 Dry Route Pawnee County, Kansas
- Departure Point of The Post-1859 Dry Route Pawnee County, Kansas
The Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road
(129.1 miles)
- Fort Hays, Kansas Ellis County, Kansas
- Golf Course Ruts Ellis County, Kansas
- Five Mile Hollow Ellis County, Kansas
- Intrception Point/B.O.D./Ft. Hays/Ft. Dodge Road Ellis County, Kansas
- Smoky Hill River Crossing Ellis County, Kansas
- Big Timbers Creek Crossing Rush County, Kansas
- Brack Ruts Rush County, Kansas
- Walnut Creek Crossing Rush County, Kansas
- Coddington Ruts Rush County, Kansas
- Schadel Ruts Pawnee County, Kansas
- McJunkin Ruts Ness County, Kansas
- Beltz Ruts Ness County, Kansas
- Cheyenne/Sioux Indian Village Ness County, Kansas
- Pawnee Fork Crossing Ft. Hays/Ft. Dodge Road Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Salmons Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Shiew Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Lupfer Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Buckner Creek Crossing Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Oliphant Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Schaffer Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Cole Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Fagen Ruts #1 Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Pfaff Ruts Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Fagen Ruts #2 Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Warner Ruts #1 Ford County, Kansas
- Warner Ruts Over Four Miles Warner Ruts in Ford County, Kansas
- Sawlog Creek Crossing Ford County, Kansas
- Warner Ruts #2 Ford County, Kansas
- Dyson Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Maxwell Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Kansas Soldiers Home Ruts Ford County, Kansas
- Junction of Ft. Hays/Ft. Dodge Road & Santa Fe Trail Ford County, Kansas
Mountain Route - Kansas
- Fort Mann, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Atkinson, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- The Caches Ford County, Kansas
- Point of Rocks Ford County, Kansas
- Lower Crossing Ford County, Kansas
- Sept. 10, 1825 Survey Team Campsite Ford County, Kansas
- Dodge City Ruts Howell, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Point of Rocks Garden City, Kansas Finney County, Kansas
- Charlie's Ruts West of Deerfield Kearny County, Kansas
- Neff Ruts East of Lakin Kearny County, Kansas
- Fort Aubry Hamilton County, Kansas
- Bent's New Fort Bent County, Colorado
- Old Fort Lyon Bent County, Colorado
- Bent's Old Fort Bent County, Colorado
- Wagon Mound Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union Number 1 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico, "The Star Fort" Number 2 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico Number 3 -- Mora County, New Mexico
Cimarron Route -- Kansas
- Menno Road Ruts Kearny County, Kansas
- Higgs Ruts Grant County, Kansas
- Kline Ruts Grant County, Kansas
- Deyoe Ruts Grant County, Kansas
- Joyce Ruts 1-3 NE of Wagonbed Spring Grant County, Kansas
- Wagon Bed Spring Grant County, Kansas
- Joyce Ruts 4-5 SW of Wagonbed Spring Grant County, Kansas
- Schmidt Ruts #1 Stevens County, Kansas
- Schmidt Ruts #2 Stevens County, Kansas
- Middle Springs Morton County, Kansas
- Point of Rocks Morton County, Kansas
Cimarron Route -- Oklahoma
- Willow Bar Crossing Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Upper/Flag Spring Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Cold Spring/Inscription Rock Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Autograph Rock Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Camp Nichols Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Cedar Spring Area Cimarron County, Oklahoma
Cimarron Route -- New Mexico
- McNees Crossing Union County, New Mexico
- Fort Union #-1 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico, "The Star Fort" #-2 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico #-3 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- The End of the Santa Fe Trail "The Plaza" Santa Fe, New Mexico
Forts Associated With The Santa Fe Trail
- Fort Osage Jackson County, Missouri
- Fort Ellsworth, 1864 Ellsworth County, Kansas
- Fort Harker, Kansas Ellsworth County, Kansas
- Fort Fletcher Ellis County, Kansas
- Old Fort Hays Ellis County, Kansas
- Fort Hays Ellis County, Kansas
- Fort Hays Cemetery Ellis County, Kansas
- Fort Wallace Wallace County, Kansas
- Fort Wallace Cemetery Wallace County, Kansas
- Fort Dodge, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Mann, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Atkinson, Kansas Ford County, Kansas
- Fort Aubry Hamilton County, Kansas
- Bent's New Fort Bent County, Colorado
- Old Fort Lyon Bent County, Colorado
- Bent's Old Fort Bent County, Colorado
- Camp Nichols Cimarron County, Oklahoma
- Fort Union #-1 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico, "The Star Fort" #-2 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Union, New Mexico #-3 -- Mora County, New Mexico
- Fort Zarah Barton County, Kansas

Santa Fe Trail Research Site
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Larry & Carolyn
St. John, Ks.
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