- William Becknell, who is considered the "Father of the Santa Fe Trail." He led the first successful trading expedition from Missouri to Santa Fe in 1821.
- Kit Carson, a famous frontiersman and mountain man who traveled the Santa Fe Trail on numerous occasions.
- Jesse Chisholm, a fur trader and guide who helped establish the Chisholm Trail, a later cattle trail that ran from Texas to Kansas.
- Ceran St. Vrain, a trader and merchant who was one of the most prominent figures on the Santa Fe Trail.
- Josiah Gregg, a trader and writer who published a famous book about his experiences on the Santa Fe Trail.
These are just a few of the many notable figures who traveled along the Santa Fe Trail, which played a vital role in the exploration and settlement of the American West.