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crumbling adobe structure with blue sky Photo: NPS

Old Spanish National Historic Trail

National Historic Trail · Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah

Follow the routes of mule pack trains across the Southwest on the Old Spanish National Historic Trail between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California.

Plan your visit Directions
  • LocationSanta Fe, NM
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
  • Weather now76°F Sunny
  • Alerts No active alerts

New Mexican traders moved locally produced merchandise across what are now six states to exchange for mules and horses.

Topics
  • Archeology
  • Arts
  • Commerce
  • Explorers and Expeditions
  • Hispanic American Heritage
  • Photography
  • Ruins
  • Trade
2 more topics
  • Trails
  • Westward Expansion
hikers walk beside a river with cottonwoods alongside the river
This section of the Rio Chama River, tributary of the Rio Grande, is located about six miles north of Abiquiú, New Mexico and flows through the Carson National Forest. — NPS

Things to Do

1 experience from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.

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Activities in the park

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Plan Your Visit

Hours

Open 24 hours, daily · Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Hours details
  • Old Spanish National Historic TrailOpen 24 hours, daily

    There are many places of history and commemoration on the Old Spanish National Historic Trail to visit. Museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites provide information and interpretation. Please contact each site before you go to obtain current information on closures, changes in hours, and fees.

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Address

National Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Get directions Map & directions info

Contact the park

Weather & conditions

76°F
Sunny · feels like 71°
  • Today 84° 55°
    Sunny
    1% rain
  • Tomorrow 79° 60°
    Sunny
    2% rain
  • Sunday 80° 61°
    Sunny
    0% rain

Updated 4 hr ago

What to expect by season

Due to the length of Old Spanish National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov

Photos

  • desert scrub in foreground, spiky mountains in background, clouds
    Sierra Blanca is a prominent mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Range along San Luis Valley on Highway 17. Locating landmarks were essential to traveling the Old Spanish Trail. — NPS
  • desert scenery, dead tree, blue sky with puffy coulds
  • a river carves through the landscape, greenery in the foreground, mountains and redrock backdrop
  • rocky trail through desert with yucca, mountain in the background
  • trail through desert scrub with Joshua trees, mountains in the distance, puffy clouds

Getting There

National Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87505

You can visit many sites of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail over the 2,700-mile historic route that crosses 6 states.

Get directions NPS directions Official NPS site

Mailing address: National Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Santa Fe, NM 87505

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