Santa Fe Trail

Byway Details

Designation

National Scenic Byway

Length

182 mi in Colorado

About Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail is a 181.8-mile National Scenic Byway in southeastern Colorado. It runs between Holly, near the eastern end, and Trinidad and Starkville in the southwest. Along the way it links a long chain of small communities, including Granada, Lamar, Las Animas, Fort Lyon, La Junta, Timpas, Model and El Moro, which makes it easy to break the drive into shorter stages with stops in the larger towns. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Holly, at about 3,400 feet, show hot summers. July highs reach about 93°F with lows around 63°F, and June and August are close behind. Spring and fall are milder: May runs about 78°F by day and 46°F at night, September about 83°F and 51°F, and October about 71°F and 37°F. Winter brings highs in the mid-40s to 50s and lows in the teens from December through February, with a couple of snowy days in most winter months. Wet days peak at about eight a month from May through July. The route climbs toward Trinidad, so temperatures at the higher western end run cooler than the Holly figures. Campgrounds sit right on the route, including Lamar Sportsman RV Park and Horse Motel and Summit RV Park. La Junta KOA Journey is about 2 miles off the byway. For a break from driving, the Santa Fe Nature hike starts close to the road, and Timpas Creek offers canoeing within about 2 miles.