One of America s first great trade routes, the Santa Fe Trail was critical to our country s westward expansion. Visit historic sites and landmarks like Bent s Fort, Trinidad, Raton Pass, Cimarron, Fort Union, Pecos, Point of Rocks, and Santa Fe. Enjoy spectacular scenery, from rugged mountains to the plains.
- Length
- 565 mi / 909.3 km
- Time to allow
- 12 hours to drive the entire byway
- Fees
- None
Who looks after this road
- Colorado Welcome Center - Lamar · 719-336-3483
- Raton Visitor Information Center · 575-445-2761
- Santa Fe Visitor Information Center · 575-827-7336
We publish 9 places that sit on this road, across 2 states, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.
“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.
The Colorado stretch
John Martin ReservoirCO6 miles offLake
reservoir
- Boating
- Boating, waterskiing, wind water sports; west ramp closed to trailers (low water)
- Fishing
- yes
- Camping
- Campground in park; 213 campsites
- Cost
- Daily vehicle pass $10-$12 (CO plates), $15-$17 (out-of-state)
The New Mexico stretch
Santa FeNMon the road
In our guide: 4 historic sites
Santa Fe Plaza (Plaza Park)NMon the roadHistoric site
The central square of Santa Fe, laid out in 1610 and now a National Historic Landmark; the city describes it as surrounded by museums, galleries and vendors from nearby Native American communities.
- Hours
- City of Santa Fe parks and plazas are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
- Run by
- City of Santa Fe Parks & Open Space Division (Public Works)
Burning of ZozobraNM1 mile offAnnual event
cultural festival at Fort Marcy Park
- When
- Late August/early September (Friday before Labor Day)
- Since
- 1924
Santa Fe Indian MarketNMon the roadAnnual event
cultural festival at Santa Fe Plaza
- When
- August
- Since
- 1922
- Runs for
- more than one day
Santa Fe Opera summer seasonNM5 miles offAnnual event
music festival at Crosby Theatre
- When
- Late June/July-August
- Since
- 1957 (first season)
- Runs for
- more than one day
The High Road to Santa FeNM2 miles off
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
White's CityNMon the road
No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.
Atalaya Mountain (via Atalaya Trail #170, Santa Fe National Forest)NMon the roadHistoric site
A mountain whose summit is reached by the Forest Service's Atalaya Trail #170, which starts from a parking lot at St. John's College in Santa Fe; the lower trailhead has no restrooms or drinking water.
- Run by
- USDA Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest