Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route Trail Segments – Iron Springs Vicinity
Otero County
These trail segments are part of the larger Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route that provided a vital transportation link between the United States and the newly independent Mexico fostering not only commercial trade, but also establishing social ties that were pivotal to regional development and expansion of the United States from 1832-1879.
A view across one of the the Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route Trail Segments – Iron Springs Vicinity.
Contrary to popular perception, the Santa Fe Trail was not a single trail with two branches, but a complex transportation system made up of various routes, starting points, and destinations. The sites contain visible trail ruts of the Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route where merchants, trappers, traders, explorers, settlers, gold seekers, health seekers, religious missionaries, entrepreneurs, investors, Native Americans, and the military were among the various individuals who traveled the route. They journeyed by foot, horseback, pack animals, wagons, and stagecoaches along the internationally known travel route. The trail segments are nationally significant in the areas of transportation, commerce, military, and exploration/ settlement. They also have the potential to provide information relevant to aboriginal and non-aboriginal historical archaeology. These trail segments were listed in association with and met the requirements of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail, 1821-1880 Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF).