I enjoyed walking out and seeing the wagon trail and reading the history of the trail. It is fascinating how the wagon trails are so easily to see. It is on the side of highway 400/50 west of Dodge City. Worth going to see.
The trails are visible from an overlook. There is a boardwalk across the prairie land. You cannot get up close to the tracks. It was windy and cold when we visited. Can't imagine the life the pioneers lived and the conditions the encountered.
Went to see the trail tracks from the old wagons going west. Cannot imagine the tenacity and courage that those people had.Just a tip..go early in the day during summer. Sure is hot there in August in middle of afternoon.
Between the 1820's and 1870's thousands of covered wagons transversed the Santa Fe Trail which started in Independence, MO and ended in Santa Fe, NM. At this location, one can actually seem the remnants of the ruts created by these wagons. As an added bonus, standing on top of the hill, you can see forever across the Kansas plains.
Wasn't alot of hupla at the stop, but since I am a history buff, and had ancestors come across the plains on the Santa Fe trail.... I was so exciting to see the tracks that they actually made and know that I was able to be where they traveled...
I love history and it is awsome to stand where so many wagon trains traveled. Had to walk up a small rise but once you got there you could see the tracks. It just makes you think about the people that rode across there and what they went through so long ago.
This is the only worthwhile attraction in Dodge City, in my opinion. We went in January and the ruts in the ground were very obvious. There were some great interpretive panels that explained the basics about the Santa Fe trail and what we were looking at. I found it quite moving to be able to see such clear evidence of such an important part of American history!
I could see at least three paths that the wagons took and could imagine what it might have been like crossing the prairie, so windy and desolate. Glad I took the time to visit the spot, just a few minutes from our hotel.
A person has to walk up the hill to see the wagon tracks. It is easily seen and there are markers telling about them. Great to see and visit!
Remember that the last wagon trains were about 150 years ago and the land was farmed, grazed or both in succeeding years. As a result,ANY evidence remaining is amazing.Even if you don't quite see the ruts (early or late Sun is best), stand there and picture WALKING for 900 miles across this land. The normal temperature difference between high(late afternoon) and low (a couple of hours before sunrise)around here is 20 to 30 degrees.If the wind is down around 5 to 10mph we say the wind ain't blowing at all.