"Trace. Path. Trail. Road. Highway.
From a trace, where there is just a hint, or suggestion, of an animal or human passing before, to the progressively larger evidence of a trail or a modern highway leading to a settlement or center of commerce, Colorado's tribute to its pioneers is largely covered with the asphalt of a highway. Plowed under by the disc of a farmer. Or, buried under the concrete of expansion.
To those willing to travel those lanes, and mentally clear away the modem scenes of homes, buildings, and power lines-- creating a vision of a time really not all that long ago-- the rewards of recalling our local history can be fascinating. It is rich. It is largely still there.
If, we know where to look."
--from the introduction to the upcoming book "Paths that Became an Empire Colorado's Pioneer Trails--Historic early paths to discovery, exploration, gold and commerce".
Welcome!
We're glad you came to visit Colorado Pioneer Trails. This website is for anyone who has an interest in the exciting development of Colorado centered around the early trails that brought us to our empire of today. The early explorers like Zebulon Pike, Stephen H. Long, John C. Fremont, John Gunnison and the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition all played major roles in our early history. The Santa Fe, Old Spanish, Taos, Trappers, Cherokee, Smoky Hill Trails and many more played a significant part in the development of this great state.
Kit Carson, Jim Baker, Jim Bridger, "Old Bill" Williams, James O. Pattie, Thomas Fitzpatrick, "Uncle Dick" Wooton, Jim Beckwourth, Antoine Robidoux, Rufus Sage, Francis Parkman, Buffalo Bill Cody and so many others left their moccasin prints in the soil that, many years later, would be known as Colorado.
Often, when someone develops an interest in certain trails, there may be a book, website, association or other references available to help learn about that particular trail. There are over thirty books on the Santa Fe Trail, about four on the Old Spanish Trail, two on the Cherokee Trail, two on the Smoky Hill. A handful on the Pony Express Trail (although a very long trail, the shortest trail of all in Colorado, less than 10 miles!). There are no books on the other trails but they are often discussed in a number of period journals, historical writings, references and maps since.
You'd need to read a large number of books to gain an overall picture of the key trails influential in the development of Colorado. Why a particular trail was started? Its importance? Where it went? Who were some of the notable people who traveled it? What significant events happened along the way? What's there today, and many more questions to help shape your thinking. And, while all this was going on in our "neck of the woods", how did it fit in the context of the development of the rest of the nation and the the political, social, and economic climate of the time.
"Paths that Became an Empire" is the first book to cover all the major trails in Colorado in the time period 1776 to 1860--from the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition and ending just about the time "wheels" really began to exert their influence. Stagecoach lines had a special impact the late mid-century and were followed just a few years later by railroads--the iron horses-- those subjects are left to other writers.
This website and the above mentioned book, are designed to help you grasp the role of significant trails, personages and interesting historical locations in Colorado--in one place.
Visit with us often as the content here will continuously evolve. If you have comments, thoughts about information to be included, or maybe you'd like a speaker at your event--please let us know.
One last comment. . .the photo in the masthead will change regularly showing some aspect of Colorado's Pioneer Trails, which would still be recognizable today by the early one's. The current photo is of the
landmark 14er, Longs Peak, so visible from the Trappers Trail, Cherokee Trail, South Platte Trail and even further.
