From Wagon Ruts to Trading Posts

By Linda Tancs

From wagon ruts to trading posts, remnants of the historical Santa Fe Trail can still be seen at Pecos National Historical Park in Pecos, New Mexico. The Trading Post is home to exhibits on the Santa Fe Trail as well as the Civil War battle, Pecos being the westernmost site of the conflict (the Battle of Glorieta Pass). Hiking is a great way to explore the park’s history, like the 2.3-mile Civil War Battlefield Trail and the Ancestral Sites Trail, where you’ll discover the remains of the Pecos Pueblo and 1717 Spanish mission church. Be sure to check in at the E.E. Fogelson Visitor Center for hiking information.