MoBikeFed announces 370 miles of "Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Tour" for Santa Fe Trail bicentennial

2021 is the bicentennial of the Santa Fe trail - a trail pioneered in 1821 from Boon's Lick, Missouri to Santa Fe, Mexico.  The entire Santa Fe Trail, a transcontinental route connecting nations and cultures, is filled with 200 years of history--and the first portion of the trail in Missouri is no exception. 

In honor of the Santa Fe Trail bicentennial, MoBikeFed is announcing the release of over 270 370 miles of carefully designed, vetted, and amazing bicycle touring routes exploring the Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail in Missouri.

 

The 270 370 Miles of Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Routes

  • SFE-01.02P Boonslick & Santa Fe Trail Exploration Loop: Boonville-Franklin-Glasgow-Arrow Rock (all paved, loop, 79 miles)

    • This area of central Missouri is rich with history - Boonvile and New Franklin with their historic river ports, Boon's Lick Country - named after Daniel Boone, whose sons mined salt in the area for many years, leaving fascinating historic sites behind, Boonslick State Historical Site - including historic ruins and archeological sites, quaint Glasgow in the Missouri River, historic Arrow Rock - a living history village with dozens of homes buildings, and historic sites dating back to the early 1800s, and historic Blackwater - another living history town, dating to the late 1800s and Missouri's railroad era.

      The GPS route contains dozens of historic sites to visit, as well as practical information like where to eat and where to stay.

      This is an excellent 1-3 day side trip from the Katy Trail at Boonville, mostly on very low traffic rural paved roads. You can stay in Boonville, Glasgow, Arrow Rock, and/or Blackwater.

  • Boonville-Blackwater-Arrow Rock (paved, 31 miles, bidirectional)
    Santa Fe Trail historic marker and Santa Fe-era home in near Boonslick
    Santa Fe Trail historic marker and Santa Fe-era home in near Boonslick State Historic Site
    • This is a shorter 1-2 day side trip from the Katy Trail at Boonville, visiting historic Blackwater and the Arrow Rock historic village/National Historic Site/Missouri State Historic Site. You can stay in Boonville, Arrow Rock, and/or Blackwater. You can turn the out-n-back into a loop if you are willing to ride 10-15 miles on higher-traffic highways.

  • SFE-03.01P Santa Fe Trail through KC area - Wayne City Landing-Gardner Junction (paved roads/trails, 62 miles, bidirectional)

    • This is a fascinating and detailed exploration of the history of the Santa Fe Trail in the greater Kansas City region.  Even if you have lived in the KC area for decades, you will find dozens of out-of-the-way historic and culture sites--many related to the Santa Fe Trail, others not--that you have never seen before. This could be a 1-4 day bicycle tour (each direction), depending on how much time you want to spend exploring and visiting each historical site.

      Highlights: Historic Wayne City Landing, historic Independence Square and historical homes/buildings, mule train memorial, historic Bingham-Wagoner estate, preserved swales at Santa Fe Park, Wieduwilt, Red Bridge, Lone Elm Park, and other locations, Aunt Sophie's Cabin, Rice-Tremonti Estate, Cave Spring, Schumacher Park, Hart Grove Campground, Lone Elm Campground, New Santa Fe Ruins and Graveyard, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, Tomahawk Creek Trail, Raytown and Gardner Historical Museums, and Parting of the Trails memorial in Gardner.

      The route features lower-traffic streets and trails, and includes dozens of historical waypoints to visit.

       

  • SFE-03.05PL - Battle of Westport Civil War Bicycle Tour (69 miles, pave roads & trails, loop route)
    You can hike and original, well-preserved section of historic Byram's Ford Road,
    You can hike and original, well-preserved section of historic Byram's Ford Road, a Santa Fe Trail-era pioneer road and site of a major, decisive action in the Battle of Westport. This is just one of dozens of out-of-the-way and often overlooked historical sites along the Battle of Westport route.
    • The Battle of Westport was the "Gettysburg of the West"--the largest Civil War Battle west of the Mississippi, with over 30,000 Union and Confederate troops over a vast battleground 15 by 5 miles--was a decisive rout of Confederate forces that ended the power of the Confederate army west of the Mississippi.

      The battle brought in a cattle call of frontier and Old West characters--Buffalo Bill Cody, Jeremiah Johnson, Jim Bridger, Kansas militias of African-American soldiers--and officers--, bushwackers, guerillas, and jayhawkers, and Union General Samuel Curtis fighting Confederate General Sterling Price over a supply column with 600 wagons and 3000 head of cattle.

      This 69-mile bicycle route, mostly on paved city streets with a few paved and soft-surface multi-use trails, traverses the vast battlefield and visits sites and monuments of the Battle of Westport, one of the most important civil war engagements west of the Mississippi. In addition, it visits many prominent sites in the founding and history of Kansas City, including many locations on the Kansas City African American Heritage Trail.

      You'll experience Civil War history, Santa Fe Trail history, Kansas City history, Westport and New Santa Fe history, and Kansas City's African American history in a way you have have before.

      The route includes every stop on the Monnett Battle of Westport Fund's Battle of Westport Self-guided Automobile Tour - though, unlike the automobile version, connected together via pleasant, bicycleable, low-traffic roads and trails - along with dozens of other historic, culture, and scenic stops, along with all the places to eat, drink, and stay along the route.

      The Santa Fe neighborhood along the Independence-Westport Santa Fe Trail
      The Santa Fe neighborhood along the Independence-Westport Santa Fe Trail developed into a historic African-American neighborhood in Kansas City. You'll see the homes and burial places of Satchel Paige - known and the greatest pitcher who ever played the game - Negro Leagues legend Buck O'Neil, and more. Or take a short side-trip to the Negro Leagues Museum the 18th Street Jazz District, and other area attractions - including local barbecue, soul food, and craft beer.
      This is a one- to seven-day, 70-mile bicycle loop route, using local low-traffic streets and trails to connect the historic sites. Many of the historic sites along the way--some very difficult to find using any other source--can be profitably explored on foot and bicycle for 1-6 hours each. And the route includes literally dozens of these fascinating and little-known sites. If you put your head down and just ride, the route can be ridden in a day.  If you plan to spend significant time at each and every stop, just 10 miles a day is not unreasonable.

  • SFE-03.07PL - Raytown-Westport-Santa Fe Trail-Battle of Westport Loop (26 miles)

    • This is a shorter loop taking in selected Battle of Westport sites--and a few not on the Battle of Westport loop--including: Hinkle's Ford, Old Santa Fe Trail connecting Independence & Westport--including original, nearly untouched sections, Old Westport, selected African-American history sites, the Brush Creek & Loose Park Battle of Westport battlefield areas, the Byram's Ford Battlefield, and more. 

      26 miles on lower-traffic paved roads and trails.

  • SFE-03.09PL Santa Fe Trail Jackson County History Loop, Independence-Raytown-New Santa Fe (20-80 miles)

    • Of Jackson County, historian David McCullough said: "I can't think of another piece of landscape of similar size where so many things have happened that have been of significance in the story of America."  Take a deep dive into that history with this 80-mile ride.  You'll ride the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, see the traces of those trails that still exist today - many of them little known, ride in the tracks of Quantrill's Raiders, Jayhawkers, and the James-Younger Gang, see where Harry and Bess Truman grew up, visit the graves of KC jazz great CHARLIE "BIRD" PARKER, KC-based frontiersman JIM BRIDGER, former slave "AUNT SOPHIE" WHITE and more.

      This is an 80 mile route, but you can trim it as low as 20 miles or add several suggested side trips to expand it to 120 miles or more.  A strong ride could finish the route in a day; those who want to relax and enjoy the history, culture, scenery, and local hospitality could stretch it out to 4-6 days.

      This route connects with the Jackson County Rock Island Trail. You could begin the route at the Independence or Lee's Summit Amtrak stations.

      20-80 miles, or up to 120 miles with optional side trips, on lower-traffic paved roads and trails.

  • SFE-03.08PL Santa Fe Trail Raytown Area History Loop (20 mile loop)

  • SFE-03.04PL Santa Fe Trail, Harry Truman, and Grandview History Loop (18 miles)
    • This is a shorter loop that can be ridden in one day or afternoon.  It explores the history of Grandview, a farming settlement just south of the Santa Fe Trail, and connected to it in many ways. Among the farmers who lived in the area and catered to Santa Fe/Oregon/California Trail travelers were Solomon and Harriet Young - grandparents of Harry Truman.  Truman spent many years running his grandparents Grandview farm. 

      Highlights: Santa Fe Trail camp, Harry Truman farm & homes in Grandview, Grandview historical district, Civil War battles & history along the trail, Santa Fe farmsteads in the Blue River Valley, Santa Fe Trail river crossing and major swales (still very visible) at Red Bridge.

  • SFE-03.06PL Santa Fe Trail Grandview-Martin City-New Santa Fe History Loop (24 miles)

    • This is an expanded version of the Santa Fe Trail, Harry Truman, and Grandview History Loop
      that also takes in the historic community of Martin City.

      Highlights: Santa Fe Trail camp, Harry Truman farm & homes in Grandview, Grandview historical district, Civil War battles & history along the trail, Santa Fe farmsteads in the Blue River Valley, historic Martin City, Santa Fe Trail river crossing and major swales (still very visible) at Red Bridge.

The GPS routes includes dozens of fascinating historical waypoints on the route, as well as some of the best places to eat, drink, and stay in the area. Also included are dozens of historical photos, maps, short articles, historical summaries, and web links that bring the places you'll visit to life. Through the Kansas City area, the same trail served as the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails - bringing even more history and historical personalities into play.


The rides above can be tackled in an afternoon, a few days, or linked together to create an extended bicycle vacation/bicycle tour along the Santa Fe Trail in Missouri and eastern Kansas. 

The routes can be ridden as a bicycle-only, car-free tour, and are also well suited for combination bicycle/auto touring, where you drive to an area spend a day or several days exploring the area, drive to the next location and spend a day or a few, and so on.

The remaining 370+ miles of the planned Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Tour in Missouri and eastern Kansas

The remaining segments of the Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Route - over 370 miles between Boon's Lick country in Missouri and Lawrence, Kansas - remain in draft stage. This additional 370 miles are all excellent first draft ideas for fascinating historic and cultural bicycle tours, or one extended loop tour from mid-Missouri to eastern Kansas and back.  But these additional routes have not yet been thoroughly vetted, checked, and ridden. If you'd like to volunteer to help check out a route or segment, let us know!  If you would like to take an extended bicycle tour visiting historical sites in central-western Missouri and eastern Kansas, this is a great starting point.

The potential for a 1500-mile Complete Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Route, Missouri to New Mexico

In addition to the Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail routes in Missouri, we have draft bicycle routes for the full Santa Fe Trail Missouri-New Mexico:

  The Santa Fe Trail through Kansas, Colorada, and New Mexico 

The Santa Fe Trail through  Kansas, Colorada, and New Mexico has dozens of historic sites, preserved ruin s and artifacts, forts, preserved trail sections, and more.  The potential for a national historic bicycle route along the entire trail is very high. 

The potential to link St Louis to the Santa Fe Trail bicycle route, via the equally historic Boon's Lick Road

The original Santa Fe Trail company took off from Boon's Lick Country in central Missouri for Santa Fe in 1821.

But what were they doing in Boon's Lick Country?

The original trail connecting the Mississippi/Missouri confluence to the salt springs at Boon's Lick was a Native American trail paralleling the north side of the Missouri River. It was used for centuries, starting hundreds to thousands of years of years ago.  As long as people have lived in this area, this was a prominent route connecting key resource areas.

Starting in the early 1800s, Daniel Boone and his sons began to use the road to connect from the thriving river town of St Louis to the salt springs at Boon's Lick.  They widened the road into a wagon trail and soon it became one of the major roads west from the Mississippi.

Like the Santa Fe Trail, many remnants of Boon's Lick Road can still be seen today - and likely, many more remnants of the road remain to be discovered.

A bicycle route exploring this historic route and the many sites of interest along the way is a logical next step.  We have made a first draft of the route--based on this map of the historic route and historic sites along it, by David  P. Sapp--for your consideration:

 Boonslick State Historic Site preserves the historic of the salt spring

Boonslick State Historic Site preserves the historic of the salt spring mined by Daniel Boone's sons and many others throughout the centuries. The route from  St Louis to Boonslick is a logical one for a historical/cultural bicycle route visiting many historic sites and communities along the way.
 

More bicycle touring and travel in Missouri:

 

Creating a world-class bicycle, pedestrian, and trails transportation network across Missouri is one of the four major goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Creating, promoting, and encouraging the implementation of the statewide trails vision along with major trails like the Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail along with developing and maintaining statewide bicycle touring routes like the Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Route, Butterfield Stage Experience, and many others--which often create connections between our major trail and existing bicycle route systems--are vitally important parts of that plan.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support help turn our Vision into reality!

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