Rivers and Mountain Ranges Crossed on the Santa Fe Trail and Old Spanish Trail

These are two distinct historic trails. The Santa Fe Trail (1821–1880) ran from Missouri to Santa Fe. The Old Spanish Trail (1829–1848) continued from Santa Fe to Los Angeles.

Santa Fe Trail (Franklin, MO → Santa Fe, NM)

Major Rivers Crossed:

• Missouri River (at start)
• Kansas River (near Topeka)
• Arkansas River (followed for hundreds of miles)
• Cimarron River (Cimarron Cutoff)
• Pecos River (near Santa Fe)

Mountain Ranges:

• Ozark Mountains (MO/AR border)
• Rocky Mountains (Raton Pass, NM/CO)

Old Spanish Trail (Santa Fe, NM → Los Angeles, CA)

Major Rivers Crossed:

• Rio Grande (at Santa Fe)
• Colorado River (multiple crossings: Moab, UT; Needles, CA)
• Green River (UT)
• Virgin River (UT/AZ/NV)
• Mojave River (CA desert)

Mountain Ranges:

• Jemez Mountains (NM)
• San Juan Mountains (CO)
• Wasatch Range (UT)
• Mojave Desert ranges (CA): San Bernardino, San Gabriel

Both trails were arduous, water-scarce, and shaped western expansion.