Santa Fe Trail is a National Historic Trail!

One of our Nation's Most Special Places!

Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway brims with history. Its inhabitants included dinosaurs, American Indians, Spanish explorers, pioneer traders and Victorian merchants. There are 45 sites of interest on or near the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail which closely follows the original path of the Santa Fe Trail. Communities through which the byway passes are rich with culture, from the Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District with Victorian architecture, shops and brick streets, to quaint rural farm towns with historic adobes and wagon trail ruts that scar the prairie from the Trail's hey days. The Mountain Branch offers extreme experiences in hiking and biking throughout the entire trail. Tours for family travelers, photographers, historians, geologists, archaeologists, writers, hikers, bikers, equestrians, and romantic getaways are all available. It encompasses 188 miles from the Kansas state line to the New Mexico state line. It was designated as a Scenic Byway in 1992 by Colorado Governor Roy Romer to preserve and enhance the resources of the Byway. Take our virtual tour and plan a trip to explore unique and diverse opportunities along Southeastern Colorado's Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway.

A brief history of the Mountain Branch! Click on the photos below to see our unique qualities!

Trinidad La Junta Lamar Maps  Museums Site Map Sites La Junta Sites Lamar Sites Trinidad Events Byway Friends & Family Links

Tours

Virtual Victorian Getaway Heritage Tour!

Santa Fe Trail Days Booths available! Best decorated booths gets it for free! Join us in the Corazon De Trinidad National Historic District for a memororable experience. Live the history!

Tour the Santa Fe Trail by Rail

From Bent's Old Fort a National Historic Site Trails and Rails Program

Ride Amtrak's Southwest Chief complete with interpretive guides!

Dinosaur Track site tour on Comanche National Grasslands!

Colorado Historical Society Exhibits, Events, Lectures, and Tours! Now Including Bent’s Fort and Sand Creek Tour!

Follow the Santa Fe Trail

Scenic and Historic Auto Tour Route

tune into 15.90 and 16.10 on your AM Radio

Click on Auto Tour Route sign to learn more about the Santa Fe National Historic Trail Auto Tour Route

The Mountain Branch Store!

Santa Fe Trail Mountain Branch CD's and Videos are now available!

Mobile Travel Guides now available for resale!

Scenic Byway Games available too!

Trinidad Historical Society Videos and Books! ORDER

The Trinidad Historical society's new publication, The Hispanic Cultural Landscape of The Purgatoire and Apishapa is again available. This book explores and records the general environment, ethnohistory, history, folklore and early architecture of southeastern Colorado with an emphasis on Hispanic traditions. The cost is $35.00 and the book is available for purchase at Hadad's Home Furnishings in Trinidad or by order from this web site. An additional fee of $3.00 applies for mailing.

Our Logo & Our Mission Statement

Click on our logo to find out who we are and what we do!

Click here for a membership form to join the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway- Mountain Branch!

For more information contact the byway manager: for e-mail click the mail box.

To contact us Via snail mail: Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway Mountain Branch, 136 W. Main, Trinidad CO, 81082

Mountain Branch Press Releases

Surviving Family members sought of WWII B-24 crash on the Santa Fe Trail See the Bomber Crash Site here!

125 Years of Collecting Colorado Revealed in New Exhibit Icons & Oddities opens to public Friday, April 30! Click here to learn more!

Your Help has paid off! Colorado State Parks Colorado State Parks general funding restored, parks will remain open. Thank you Citizens!

Mountain Branch receives Grant for Watchable Wildlife Signage

Join our new National Scenic Byways Foundation and Support the promotion of Americas Great Highways!