Historic Trail Map

of the La Junta

1 ̊ × 2 ̊ Quadrangle,

Southeastern Colorado

and Western Kansas

By Glenn R. Scott,1 Richard H. Louden,2 F. Craig Brunstein,1 and Carol A. Quesenberry1

2008

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, and 60 Estes Street, Lakewood, CO 80226–1254

2 P.O. Box 8, Branson, CO 81027–0008

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Map 2923

Pamphlet accompanies map

Prepared in cooperation with the

Denver Public Library,

Western History and

Genealogy Department

Photographic credits:

Except as noted otherwise, photographs 

Western History and Genealogy Departm

The photographer (where known) and D

for each photograph are shown at the en

All historical photographs, sketches, and 

viewers can readily review the originals 

illustrations have enhancements that are 

publication design. We are careful not to 

visions of an era but, rather, to use them 

Historical data compiled by Glenn R

Publication design and digital layout 

Original drawings by Carol Quesenb

Edited by F. Craig Brunstein and L

Digital cartography by Springfield a

Pamphlet layout and design by Caro

Manuscript approved for publication 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for desc

by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in t

the individual copyright owners to reproduce any co

This map (Scientific Investigations Map 2923) and 

the USGS Store at http://store.usgs.gov or call 1-88

The map is also available as a PDF file at http://pub

 EXPLA

TRAIL OR ROAD—Names 

roads. Routes plotted from 

early maps, or aerial phot

original sources, such as 

for descriptions of roads. 

GLO land plats were omi

excessively. Some trails a

or dashed where their des

shown on original source 

adjusted to better fit mod

before 1900

TOWN OR OTHER CULT

located; alternate town na

newer town names are sh

towns shown on previous

locations shown here may 

TOPOGRAPHIC FEATUR

OR OTHER FEATURE

RAILROAD—Railroad line

Abbreviations of railroad 

the accompanying pamph

accompanying pamphlet 

about railroads, see book

Information” in the pamp

Index Map Showing Location of

La Junta Quadrangle and other

Published Historic Trail Maps

Horse-drawn carriages are parked along Santa 

Fe Avenue in La Junta, in 1908. Photographer 

Detroit Publishing Company. (Courtesy of 

Denver Public Library, Western History and 

Genealogy Department. X-10466.)

A saloonkeeper outside a saloon in La Junta. Sometime after 1920. Photographer 

unknown. (Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy 

Department. X-10481.)

(Right) Studio portrait of eight members of 

the La Junta Orchestra posing with their 

instruments in 1882. Photographer unknown. 

(Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western 

History and Genealogy Department. 

X-10479.)

Firemen pose in a line next to a hose reel in La Junta, in 1883. Photographer unknown. (Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History 

and Genealogy Department. X-10471.)

(Above) Four firemen pose on a new fire wagon in La Junta in 

1890. Photographer unknown. (Courtesy of Denver Public Library, 

Western History and Genealogy Department. X-10473.)

(Right) Ten firemen are harnessed to a hose reel for a race on an 

unpaved street in La Junta in 1902. Photographer unknown. 

(Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy 

Department. X-10474.)

 

Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph employees pose 

by horse-drawn wagons in La Junta in 1907. The men are 

in front of the Otero County Courthouse. Photographer 

unknown. (Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western 

History and Genealogy Department. Z-2184.)

Ornate Victorian rooflines of buildings in La Junta, 

Colorado. Photographs taken 2005 by Craig 

Brunstein, USGS.

Historic La Junta

From its very beginning until the 1990s, La Junta’s history has been inextricably tied to railroading. In the early 1870’s, 

the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) and the Kansas Pacific Railroad (KP) were competing, laying 

track ever westward on the plains of Colorado toward the eventual site of La Junta. Both railroads reached the site 

within a few days of each other, but the KP was first, and at an endpoint of a spur line in December 1875, the site was 

named “La Junta” (Spanish for “the junction”). At the site, a few buildings were erected. In 1878, the KP line was shut 

down, but the Santa Fe Railway made La Junta the head of the Colorado Division for the AT&SF, which began the long, 

fruitful relationship between the AT&SF and La Junta. The town was incorporated under State law in 1881, and by 

1901, the population of La Junta was 2,513. By that time the city had developed into an important regional hub for the 

Santa Fe Railroad, livestock production, and farming. In 1907, a thousand men in La Junta worked for the AT&SF. The 

city is located in the broad valley of the Arkansas River, which contains some of the most historic features in the United 

States. Just a few miles from present-day La Junta is Bent’s Fort, an important frontier trading post and stopover on the 

Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Many of the Old West’s most notable historic figures traveled over the Trail and 

visited or stayed at Bent’s Fort. (Information from Keck, 1999, and other references listed in the “Sources of Information” in the text pamphlet.)

(Above and Right) In the collection of the Otero Museum in La Junta is this 1867 Concord 

mail coach. Once the best and most luxurious vehicle available for long distance travel, this 

stagecoach carried passengers across miles of wilderness, serving its various owners for more 

than twenty years. For a number of years, it operated from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Denver, 

Colorado, over the Smoky Hill route. It took six days to make the trip and cost $100.00 plus 

twenty-five cents per mile or approximately $250.00. It was pulled by six horses or mules, the 

teams changed every ten to twelve miles. The coach was made in Concord, New Hampshire, by the 

Abbot-Downing Company and purchased by Wells Fargo & Company for $1,100.00. Since travel was 

extremely hazardous because of poor (or nonexistent) roads, many coaches were wrecked. The wrecks were 

salvaged to repair other coaches. This coach actually contains parts of three different coaches. Originally 

numbered 253, parts of earlier coaches 105 and 106, as determined by serial numbers, are found on it. When 

new, its brilliant red and yellow exterior and rich damask cloth and russet leather interior was described as 

the best of its day. Today, it is among the most complete surviving nine 

passenger mail coaches in the country. When the railroad came, the stagecoach 

was no longer needed for the long Smoky Hill route, and this coach was then 

used mostly for shorter hauls in Colorado to various gold camps and other 

cities. Many legends are part of its history—some are true. One story says 

that it ran from Denver to Deadwood, South Dakota, and eluded robbers at 

the cost of at least one passenger killed and several bullet holes in its 

chassis. It was eventually retired in Greeley, Colorado, and then

purchased by the city of Las Animas for use in parades. In 1942,

it was purchased by Dr. G.E. Calonge and given to the Chamber

of Commerce Museum. In 1989, the Otero Museum

built the Coach House to protect this Grand Old

Dame of yesteryear. Photograph taken August 6,

2005, by Craig Brunstein, USGS. (The text in

this caption and permission to publish these

photographs are courtesy of the Otero

Museum, La Junta, Colorado.)

Chuck Wagons. A, This 1916 chuck wagon is in the Otero Museum in La Junta. Such wagons are still used in roundup

they were more common during cattle drives and roundups of the past. This chuck wagon is from the Holly Ranch, south

of Swink, Colorado. The drawers in the chest carried small utensils and food stuffs. Larger utensils, food, and various o

items were carried in the front of the wagon. Photograph taken August 6, 2005, by Craig Brunstein, USGS. (Information 

this chuck wagon and permission to publish this photograph courtesy of the Otero Museum, La Junta, Colorado.) 

B, View of the back of a chuck wagon apparently about breakfast time (note the time on the clock). Photograph taken 

by R.W. Stone. (U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Photographic Library.)

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe locomotive (engine number 840) and a coal tender. Between 1890 and 1910. 

Photographer S.C. Sutton. (Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Department. 

Z-5463.)

(Left) Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe (AT&SF) 

locomotive (engine number 92), with coal 

tender and passenger car, in La Junta, 

January 23, 1919. Photographer Otto Perry. 

(Courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western 

History and Genealogy Department. op-17.)

(Right) Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 

(AT&SF) rail yards during the June 4, 

1921, Arkansas River flood. The rail 

yards are on the south bank of the 

Arkansas River, which occasionally 

overtops its banks and floods the rail 

yards. Photographer unknown. 

(Courtesy of Denver Public Library, 

Western History and Genealogy 

Department.)

“For some 120 years, La Junta has been the hub of Santa Fe 

operations in Colorado and the traditional dividing point on the 

original Santa Fe main line — east, the plains and fast track; west, 

mountains and curves.”

(Excerpt from “Santa Fe in the Intermountain West—Colorado Rail Annual No. 23,” published by 

the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1998.)

(Above) An 1882 view of the “La Junta 

Hotel Railroad Eating House,” one of the 

many “Harvey Houses,” that made up a 

chain of railway hotels and restaurants 

built by English immigrant Fred Harvey in 

the southwestern United States. Tracks of 

the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe (AT&SF) 

railroad are in front of the building. At that 

time all trains stopped in La Junta for 

meals. The railroad first reached La Junta 

in 1876. Photographer unknown. 

(Courtesy of Denver Public Library, 

Western History and Genealogy 

Department. X-10478.)

A

The Concord Stagecoach

The Concord stagecoach had a capacity of 12–13 people—as many as nine passengers sat inside the coach, while the driver and several other passengers rode on top of the stage. For short distances 

10–12 people could ride perched on the top of the stage, making for a total of over 20 people. There were various models of Concord coaches, and the type used in the Old West weighed about 2,500 

pounds. It was considered by many to be the finest road vehicle of its time and the finest coach the world has ever known. Probably most of the coaches saw use on the trails and roads out West. No two 

coaches had the same color scheme; however, the favorite colors used on the coaches were red for the body and yellow for the trim. Depending

on the steepness, roughness, and condition of a road, the stage might be pulled by 2–6 horses. The stage drivers changed horses (or mules)

about 10 or 12 times in 24 hours, and did it nearly every time in 4 minutes. The change took place when a pin that attached the team’s harness

to the wagon tongue was pulled, the old team was led away, a fresh team was backed into place, and the pin was re-inserted, making the

stage ready to continue its journey. The stage normally traveled 8–10 miles an hour. For each 200–250 miles of road, a stage company had

a Division Agent or Division Superintendent, who had charge of all company property. In addition to having charge of all the property

belonging to the stage company, the Division Agent bought all the hay and grain. He looked after the stock, the scheduling

of the stages, and checked on the care of stations and the performance of their keepers. He hired the drivers, stock

tenders, blacksmiths, harness-makers, general superintendent, attorney, paymaster, conductor, express messenger,

and other employees. The conductor or express messenger rode on the stage and had complete charge of the

passengers, mail, and baggage. He was responsible for safekeeping and transport of all valuable items including payrolls,

merchandise, ore shipments, and farm shipments. He usually sat beside

the driver and he carried a shotgun loaded and ready to use. Stock tenders

cared for the teams and made sure the horses were ready when a stage

pulled in. The stage driver had to be expert, fearless, sober, and reliable.

Drivers were forced to make quick decisions about the horses, the roads,

and the passengers. When the driver was in his box he was superior to

everyone else on the stage. (Information from McCullough,

1998, and other references listed in the “Sources of Information”

in the text pamphlet.)

Chuck Wagons

Historians credit Charles Goodnight (of the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail fame) with inventing the chuck wagon 

prior to an 1866 cattle drive from Texas to Denver in Colorado Territory. Such a wagon became a necessity for 

large cattle drives in order to carry the food, water, cooking utensils, tools, bedrolls, and fuel for fires for the cowboys during the long dusty trail drives. The chuck wagon cook was almost always called “Cookie,” and some of his 

duties included preparing meals for the cowboys, administering trailside first aid, and driving the chuck wagon 

ahead of the cattle herd and setting up the next campsite. He was expected to set up camp and provide meals no 

matter the weather or trail conditions: hot, cold, rainy, dusty, muddy. Chuck wagons are still used on large ranches in the Western U.S. They have

become historic vehicles, and there is a national registry for owners to register their chuck wagons. There are also numerous chuck wagon “cook offs”

in the Western U.S., where modern-day “Cookies” and their modern or historic chuck wagons are part of popular public events where they prepare

meals in the same fashion as in the old cattle roundups and cattle drives. (Information from Nola McKey Eads [http://www.phudpucker.com/bluebonn/

chuck%20wagon.htm], accessed Oct. 25, 2007, and other references listed in the “Sources of Information” in the text pamphlet.)

Fire Department

Railroads

Concord

Stagecoach

CONTOUR INTERVAL 100 FEET

WITH SUPPLEMENTARY CONTOUR INTERVALS AT 50 FEET

North American Vertical Datum of 1929

SCALE 1:250 000

5 0 5 10 15 20 25 KILOMETERS

Base from Defense Mapping Agency, 1955 5 0 5 10 15 20 MILES

Revised by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1977

Transverse Mercator projection

10,000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid, zone 13

100,000-foot grid based on Colorado coordinate system, south zone

1977 magnetic declination from true north varies from 11.5° easterly for 

the center of the west edge of the map to 10.5° easterly for

the center of the east edge

ARKANSAS VALLEY

RAILWAY

AT&SF

BOISE CITY LINE

ROUTE OF MAJOR W. H. EMORY, 1846

SANTA FE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

WAGON ROAD

ALBANY AND GRANADA STAGE ROAD

MAJOR LONG ROUTE

CAPTAIN JOHN POPE’S ROUTE 1851

WAGON ROAD

INDIAN TRAIL (FROM RIDDLE, 1948)

WAGON ROAD

WAGON ROAD TO LAS ANIMAS

ARMY OF THE WEST

ROAD TO SANTA FE

SANTA FE NATIONAL

HISTORIC TRAIL

PURGATOIRE FORK OF MOUNTAIN BRANCH

BARLOW AND SANDERSON STAGE

ROUTE

OLD WAGON ROAD

TO LAS ANIMAS

SPRIN

GFIELD

A

N

D LA

MAR STA

GE LINE

GRANADA

AND SANTA FE TRAIL

FOWLER ROUTE 1822

FOWLER ROUTE JUNE 11, 1822

PALIDOR

TRAIL

TEXAS

TRA LI (APPROXIMATELY LO

CATED)

Bear Springs Arroyo

SHERIDAN AND SANTA FE

STAGE ROAD

SANTA FE TRAIL (PURGATOIRE

RIVER BRANCH)

MADISON EMERY'S

ROAD 1868

JEEP TRAIL

VAN BREMER ROAD

FORT UNION ROAD

PROBABLE ROUTE OF MAJOR JACOB FOWLER 1822

TO SPRINGFIELD AND REGNIER

FOWLER ROUTE

EL RIO DE LAS ANIMAS PERDIDAS EN PURGATORIO

Fort Union to Fort Lyon

MAJOR R.I.DODGE'S ROAD 1870

PENROSE TRAIL

FOWLER ROUTE 1822 

Freezeout Creek

GRANADA - FORT UNION ROUTE OF SANTA FE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

FROM

FORT LYON TO CANADIA

N

RIVER

MAJOR STEPHEN H. LONG 1820 PROBABLE ROUTE

FORT UNION ROUTE OF SANTA FE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

CARRIZO

TO SPRINGFIELD

OLD

SANTA

FE

TRAIL

CAPTAIN J. POPE'S

ROUTE 1851

ROUTE

TO FORT LEAVENWORTH

OLD SANTA FE TRAIL (CIMARRON CUTOFF)

SANTA FE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

TEXAS TRAIL

SANTA FE TRAIL

FROM

ROCKY

FORD

MADISON

EMERY’S ROAD 1868

SANTA FE TRAIL

SANTA FE TRAIL

GRANADA AND SANTA FE WAGON ROAD

ROAD

FROM GRA

NADA

TO

PAN

HANDLE

OLD WAGON ROAD TO COOLEDGE, KANSAS

 North border o

f Fort Carson

Sand

Hills

STAGE ROAD FROM TRINIDAD

TO LAS ANIMAS 

Apishapa Bluff

La Junta 1875

(Formerly Otero)

10 Mile

Water Hole

10 Mile

Waterhole

Eagle Hill

Cheney Center

Benton (Angora)

pre-1885

Ormaga Siding

Hawley

(Hauck?)

Omer

1910

COMANCHE

NATIONAL

GRASSLAND

NEIMAN FLATS

Miller Mesa

Rene

Railroad

Siding

Timpas

Timpas Stage

Station

Ninemile Hill Miller

Gilpin

Weaver Ranch

Scotts Ranch

Mitchell

Camp

Ayr

Lamar

Communications

Facility Annex

BORDER OF VIGIL AND SAINT VRAIN LAND GRANT

BORDER OF VIGIL AND SAINT VRAIN LAND GRANT

( Area of grant north of this line)

Eagle Nest

East Hill

Carrica Ranch

Alkali Station

Ayer

Three

Buttes

Trail Ruts

Historic Site

Bloom

Siding

Mindeman

Siding

David Canyon

Ranch

Maine Ranch

Higbee

Muddy

Gap Opal

Mothers

Hill

Ninaview

Toonerville

Ruxton

Rule

1910

Ralph Queeno

Ranch

Devil's Rocking

Chair (location?)

Round

Mound

Harbourdale

Old Higbee

San Joseville

Vogel Canyon

Station

July 24, 1820

Packers Gap

Symons

Iron Springs

Stage Station

Iron Springs

Historic Site

Stage Canyon

Stage Station

Bent Canyon

Stage Station

Cordova

Plaza

Big Canyon

Tyron Airport

Rock

Crossing

Lockwood

Stage Station

South Border of Fort Carson

Hogback

Stage Station

Gillette

Long

July 26, 1820

Indianapolis July 27, 1820

Walts

Corner

Bachita

Alcreek

(Wilson or

Wilson Switch)

Watervale

Emery Gap 

Cimarron Pass

Atwell

Gotera

Humbar 1887

Troy 1887

Donnelly Ranch Site

Frenchmans Butte

New Troy 1899

Dalerose

Cleveland

Kim

Andrix

Carrizo Springs

Carriso Rodley

Midway

(formerly Lamport;

1910 Davis Store)

Lamport

DAR Historic

Trail Markers

CIMARRON

NATIONAL

GRASSLAND

Milas

Lamport

Taloga

Baker

Ruff

Stonington

STONINGTON

OLD NATIONAL CATTLE TRAIL

Richards

Matthews

Wentworth

Progress

Stonington

1888

Old Boston

1887

(Benton)

Pride

COMANCHE 

NATIONAL 

GRASSLAND

Richland

Academy

(location?)

State Line

Bisonte

Siding

Devils

Elbow

Campo

Sand Arroyo

Riddle Store

Edler

Kirkwell

Copper

Mines

(location?)

Carrizo P.O.

Big Hole

Canyon

Oklarado

Setonburg

(Bigglers Store)

Utleyville

Nowlinsville

Picture Canyon

Collins

Store

Regnier

Little Black Mesa

Carrizo

Carrizo Canyon

Trail

Carrizo

Springs

Estelene

(Old Soldiers

Camp)

Boggus Store

Druce

Potato Butte

Troy

1938, 1941

Camp

June 7, 1822

Troy 1900

Cerro Negro

Salazar

Ricon

Miners

Peak

Lone Oak

Camp

June 6, 1822

Duncan

1910

Cross L Flats

Ranch

Branson

(Colorado

Flats)

Hogback

Border of Miranda

and Beaubien Grant

Long

July 25, 1820

Medina

rock shelter Officer

Platt Ranch

Hoopup

Buster?

1916

Buster

Willow 1924

Spring

Edenview Patt Patt

Graft

McCall North

Junction South

Junction

Springfield

1887

Pritchett

(Felt)

Zion

Chapel

Clyde

Vilas

Saunders

Griffin Airport

Walch

Bartlett

Konantz

1910

Konantz

1895

Westola

Buffalo

Point

Clyde ?

Tuck

Joycoy Camp

June 8, 1822

Colorado State

University

Experiment Station

Tuck

Lone Rock

Soldier Canyon

Villegreen

Smith

Homestead

Plum Valley

Don Sammons

Ranch

Red Rock

Pyeatt Ranch

Camp Windmill?

(location?)

Rock Crossing

20 Mile

Waterhole

Yeiser

Wagon

Gap?

Alkali

Holes

Irwin

Canyon

Alkali

Springs

Lake

Mesa

Hackberry

Kazan Spring

1920

Plug Hat

Israel

Crossing

Israel

Store Nigericeras scotti

Harbord

Switch

Maxey

1910

Decatur

Longshore

Ranch

Orine Deora

Maxey

Brookfield

Deora

Frick

McEndree

Ranch

Table Mesa

Old

Atlanta

Taylor Ranch

COMANCHE

NATIONAL

GRASSLAND

NINE MILE BOTTOM

CNG

CNG

CNG

CNG

SETCHFIELD RESERVOIR

STATE WILDLIFE AREA

Northway Albany

Butte

Springs

Duer

Camp

June 10, 1822 Ranch

Camp

Plains

Community

Plains

Webb

Devils

Grate

FORT CARSON

MILITARY RESERVATION

PINON CANYON

MANEUVER SITE

~

Goat Ranch

Spring BLACK HILLS

ROUND

PRAIRIE

DODGE'S ROAD TO FORT UNION

Sheridan

Canon ~

SPRINGFIELD AND DENVER STATE HIGHWAY

WAGON ROAD

WAGON ROAD

WAGON ROAD

WAGON ROAD

F.X. AUBRY'S

CUTOFF 1851 CAPTAIN J. POPE'S ROUTE 1851

AT&SF BOISE CITY LINE R.R. 1935 - TODAY

Pinon Canyon

Maneuver Site

~

FORT CARSON

MILITARY RESERVATION

CNG

Pinon Spring ~

CAPTAIN JOHN POPE'S ROUTE

WAGON ROAD

WAGON ROAD

ROAD 09

ROAD 09

INDIAN TRAIL (FROM RIDDLE,1948)

SATANKA LINE

PINON ~ RIDGE

Jesus Mesa

F.X. AUBRY'S CUTOFF 1851

FORMERLY SANTA FE TRAIL

FORT DODGE - FORT UNION

FREIGHT ROUTE, ALSO

LT. W.G. PECK, 1847, AND

LT. I.C. WOODRUFF, 1852

C&S

MAIN LINE

Black Butte

Mulvane

Clay Creek

Spring

Medford

Springs

Springfield and Lamar

Stageline Ranch

New Stage

Station

(Gobblers Knob)

Two

Buttes

Verdun

Wilde

1910

STAGE ROAD

Hornville

Wilde

Two

Buttes

Minneapolis

Cemetery

Blaine (Artesia) 1900

Corinth (location?)

Lycan 1913 Border

Saunders

Monon

1910

Lycan P.O

1936

Minneapolis

Camp

June 9, 1822 TWO BUTTES

STATE WILDLIFE

AREA

Old Stage Station Black

Flues

1915

Buckeye

COUNTY

ROA

D

(Area of grant west of this line)

Yampa River

Colorado River

Fo

Grand

Junction

B

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

LEADVILLE

SIM 2820

Rio 

DENVER AR

I-856-G