The Santa Fe Trail - Arkansas River (Stop 3)

America's Fifth Longest River

The Arkansas River is the 5th longest river in the United States. Ports on the river include Wichita, Kansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Little Rock, Arkansas. Travelers on the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas would eventually have to make a decision on which route to take to Santa Fe: the Cimarron route through a small portion of Colorado, or, continue along the Arkansas River, west into Colorado to take the Mountain route. While the mountain route took longer, travelers had a continuous source of water and settlers were less likely to be attacked by Native Americans.

Next Stop: Fort Dodge