Very little remains of the Santa Fe Trail. Begun as a trade route to Santa Fe, New Mexico, this trail started in Westport, Missouri and followed what is now U.S. highway 56. These remaining ruts, just south of Ft. Larned, are among the best we've seen of the trail. A small stand has been erected in this field, allowing visitors a larger view of the trail ruts. Photos show that prairie dogs have a town in this field.

Fort Larned and the trail border the Arkansas River. The trail follows the river through much of Kansas. The sod house and dugout shown at lower right are on the grounds of the Santa Fe Trail Museum, highway 159, just west of Larned. The museum is privately owned.