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Trade between Missouri and the new nation of Mexico began in 1821, when Mexico declared
its independence from Spain and William Becknell brought a pack train of goods to Santa Fe and although the Hispanic
and Indian residents had been making pottery, furniture and clothing from native materials, they wanted yard goods,
including muslin and calico,  Spanish shawls, buttons, writing paper, thread, needles and hardware, including scissors, locks, shovels
and pots and pans. Mexican contraband items, highly taxed if found, included lead, gunpowder and tobacco. After
New Mexico became American Territory in 1848, much freight along the Santa Fe Trail consisted of military supplies
and much sought-for foodstuffs and canned goods, like peaches.
Raton Pass
The Mountain Route between Bent's Fort, CO, and Fort Union, NM, followed Indian trails and crossed the Raton Mesa
Group on Raton Pass near Uncle Dick Wootton's Ranch. Stephen Kearny's Army of the West entered the area in 1846
and camped at the Clifton House site on the Canadian, south of Raton. You may view the route long the creek west
of Interstate 25, between Trinidad and Raton. There is a small pull-off one and a half miles south of the top of
Raton Pass, with an excellent view of the Santa Fe Mountain Route in the valley to the northwest.
The Old Pass
To understand the topography and the Raton Mesa Group barrier, drive west on Moulton Avenue to another excellent
view point on Goat Hill, just east of the Old Pass 1906-1948 interstate highway. You may drive five miles through
the Ponderosa pines on the old Scenic Highway and view the Sangre De Cristos gleaming above timber line, with their
coats of snow.
The Raton Museum and the Old Pass Gallery
Dioramas and old photographs are on display in the Raton Museum on First Street, across from the train depot. The
Wells Fargo Express Office now houses the Old Pass Gallery with collections of western art.
Clifton House
Following the Civil War, cattleman in Texas rounded up stray mavericks and drove them up the Pecos River to fill
beef contracts for the Army and the Ute and Jicarilla Apache Indian Agency in Cimarron. Tom Stockton was a major
supplier and his ranch headquarters became a roundup point. His stage station, just west of the I-25 Taos Exit-446,
was mentioned by many passengers.
The Stage Route
The Barlow and Sanderson Stage Route was just west of US-64, between Raton and Cimarron. Ruts may be viewed on
the National Rifle Association Whittington Center, south of Raton and at Hoxie junction, where Kearney's lower
road went south to Rayado before Lucien Maxwell developed his grant headquarters at Cimarron, which soon became
the County Seat.
Cimarron
The Old Mill Museum, in Cimarron was built in 1864, to provide wheat for the Army in the Southwest and the Indian
Agency. It is now a museum, operated by the CS Cattle Company and opens during the summer. Other mills to visit
are located in La Cueva and Mora. Although Maxwell's mill burned years ago, you may visit the plaza and well where
the Mountain Route entered on the northeast corner. The Old Jail, 1872 Court House, Swink's Gambling Hall and the
St. James Hotel are on the walking tour, available from the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce.
Rayado
Kit Carson's home at Rayado, NM-21 mile 12, is being restored by the Philmont Scout Ranch. Living history is presented
all summer, with the blacksmith shop, a noon meal cooked on the patio, and black powder demonstrations. This beautiful
valley was visited by five major Spanish Expeditions following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and the Reconquest in
1692. United States Troops were stationed at Rayado
Santa Fe Trail
When the Spanish conquistador Onate journeyed to New Mexico in 1598, he and his
soldiers followed this ancient route as they explored the plains and traded with the peoples there. Then in 1821,
a trader from Missouri, William Becknell, opened the Santa Fe Trail as a commercial route between what as then
the western reaches of the United States and New Mexico.
The Cimarron Cutoff
From Watrous to Wagon Mound, some of the finest Santa Fe Trail Wagon Ruts are still visible from the access road
northeast of the I-25 Exit-366. The Cimarron Cutoff and the Granada Fort Union Military Freight Route joined just
above the Rock Crossing of the Canadian, on NM-56 east of Springer.
Point of Rocks
Fine wagon ruts are also visible seven miles north of US 56, mile marker 23, on the way to the NPS Certified Site,
belonging to Pete and Faye Gaines. Route 56 continues to NM 453, then north to Grenville.
Rabbit Ears and Turkey Creek Camps
Rabbit Ears Camp, located five miles north of Mt. Dora, on A-65. Nearby, the Kiowa National Grassland welcomes
hikers at Cimarron Cutoff 4 miles northwest of Seneca on Union A-89 at A-55.
The Raton Mesa Group
As you return to Raton on NM 370, stop at the Traversier Overlook. On NM 456, the Granada Fort Union Military Freight
Route crossed the mesas in Toll-Gate Canyon, NM 551.
Folsom Falls, mile 54 and the Folsom Museum are located on the Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway. Turning west at Folsom,
NM 72 crosses three other rough passes: Trinchera, mile 29 at Colfax A-35, used by Oliver Loving in 1867; Manco
Burro, mile 13 at Colfax A-30; and Sugarite Canyon , NM 72 mile 5 at 526.
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