As the path continues into Ford County, there are a number of trail routes still visible.

Dry Route Through Edwards County

Along the Dry Route, the trail made its way to the Big Coon Creek Crossing, which was once the site of a stage station established in 1863. Following the abandonment of the stage station in 1867, the U.S. Army occupied it briefly as an outpost known as Fort Coon. Here, cut downs can be seen on both sides of the creek. In the Santa Fe Trail days, this stream was called Big Coon Creek; however, it is actually a tributary of Coon Creek and is presently labeled Little Coon Creek

About eight miles further down the path was a campsite on the stage company’s route called Dinner Station. As the path moves into Ford County, numerous ruts can still be seen along the way.

Ford County

Both the wet and dry routes continued into Ford County, with the Wet Route following the north side of the Arkansas River, while the Dry Route entered the county about eight miles north of the river. These two lines came together near Fort Dodge, and then followed along the north side of the Arkansas River, through the present site of Dodge City and near the "Caches" five miles west, before entering Gray County just north of the Arkansas River. The Cimarron Route also began in Ford County, branching off at the Lower Crossing of the Arkansas River near the mouth of Mulberry Creek, following up the creek, and running to the southwest.

Wet Route in Ford County

As the path continues into Ford County, it comes to the “Black Pool” about four miles east of present-day Ford, Kansas. The Black Pool is a spring and is so named because the water appears to be black when viewed from above because of an underlying shelf of shale. Many inscriptions have been left in the rock ledge above the pool and well-defined trail ruts can be seen nearby. The pool is located one mile north on Kansas 154, across the Arkansas River, 3.5 miles east on the first gravel road and then 0.5 mile south to a pasture.

This "island" developed into a well known campsite and in 1843, was the scene of a confrontation between Captain Philip St. George Cooke’s dragoons and Colonel Jacob Snively from the Republic of Texas. Snively and his men had come north to raid Mexican Caravans on the Santa Fe Trail and Cooke and his men disarmed them.

The trail continued on to Fort Dodge, which was established in April, 1865 to help protect the Santa Fe Trail. The fort site had been previously used as a campsite by Trail travelers because the wet and dry routes rejoined at this point. A stage station preceded the fort, but it was later burned by Indians. Fort Dodge troops were charged with protection of stagecoaches, mail and railroad construction crews. The fort was removed from service in 1872 and became the Kansas Soldiers Home, which it continues to function as today. Although many of the original buildings have been remodeled, they illustrate army life along the Santa Fe Trail.

Dry Route in Ford County

The Dry Route into Ford County passed by the Arroyo Blanco campsite, a gully, streaked with alkali deposits. In Spanish, Arroyo Blanco means “White Ravine.” It then meandered on to the Little Little Coon Creek Crossing where multiple ruts can still be found in the area. During the trail days, the stream was known as Little Coon Creek, but is actually the main channel of what is today labeled Big Coon Creek. The crossing used on the Post-1859 Dry Route and as a campsite on the stage company’s route. The Dry Route then continued on to the Lower Crossing of the Arkansas River, where it joined back with the Wet Route.

Combined Wet-Dry Route in Ford County

The path then made its way to Dodge City before passing Fort Mann, established in April of 1847 because the Army needed a post midway between Fort Leavenworth and Santa Fe to repair wagons and to replace animals. Though not a military post, Fort Mann was defensible and occasionally occupied by regular troops. It was abandoned in 1848. The old Fort Mann site is located about  one mile west of Dodge City on US Highway 50.

The old site of Fort Atkinson is located just about another mile further. It was originally established in 1850 to control Indians and to protect the Santa Fe Trail. In 1851, a newly built fort was officially designated at Fort Atkinson and was the first fully garrisoned fort to be erected along the Santa Fe Trail. Its mission was to protect the Trail from Indian raids. It was not successful and was abandoned in October of 1854 because of its inadequate buildings and the difficulty and expense of supplying it. The site is located about two miles west of Dodge City on US Highway 50.

Just to the northwest of Fort Atkinson was a place called "The Caches," a hiding place for trade good stored by the Baird/Chambers party in 1823.

About three miles west of Dodge City was a landmark called Point of Rocks, a favorite lookout place on the Santa Fe Trail. Here, there were once four Points of Rock overlooking the trail. In 1915, a marker was placed about five miles west of Dodge City at the highest point, referred to as High Rock. However, that point was destroyed by highway construction in 1981. The remaining outcroppings now have a marker three miles west of Dodge City on U.S. Highway 50 on the north side of the road.

Nine miles west of Dodge City can be seen an excellent set of trail ruts on the north side of Highway 50. It is owned and managed by the Boot Hill Museum, which permits visitors to walk to the site of the parallel ruts. The Kansas Highway Department has provided a turnout and a parking area. 

Continued Next Page

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