The Santa Fe Trail In The Fort Union-Watrous Area


Fort Union

Publication: Wagon Tracks, Vol. 3, No. 3

Author: Harry Myers

Date of Publication: 1989

PDF File: Wagon-Tracks.-Volume-3-Issue-3-May-1989.pdf

Description


The most significant number of Santa Fe Trail remains anywhere are found in the Fort Union-Watrous area of New Mexico. The area was originally called La Junta de los Rios Mora y Sapello (the junction of the Mora and Sapello rivers) and simply known as La Junta. In this tree-shaded valley, the intersection of the Cimarron and Mountain branches of the Trail occurred. Mexican traders sometimes halted here and waited until enough wagons had gathered to make a safe journey across the plains to Missouri.