Old Spanish National Historic Trail

crumbling adobe structure with blue sky
Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiquiú provided a way station for travelers along the Old Spanish Trail in the 1800s. It is privately owned by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
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.
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.
desert scenery, dead tree, blue sky with puffy coulds
The San Rafael Swell is a huge craggy geologic feature (an anticline), about 75 miles by 40 miles, located in south-central Utah approximately 30 miles west of Green River.
a river carves through the landscape, greenery in the foreground, mountains and redrock backdrop
This section of the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area is off Interstate 15 about 20 miles southwest of St. George, Utah and about 20 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada
rocky trail through desert with yucca, mountain in the background
This trail segment is 5.25 miles, and is part of the Old Spanish Trail/Mormon Road Historic District, outside Blue Diamond, Clark County, Nevada.
trail through desert scrub with Joshua trees, mountains in the distance, puffy clouds
Old Spanish Trail travelers used this section of the historic Mojave Road is within Mojave National Preserve.
Photos: National Park Service

About Old Spanish National Historic Trail

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

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historic Trail
Park State / Territory MembershipArizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers0
Campgrounds0
Things To Do1

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

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

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

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.

FridayAll Day
MondayAll Day
SaturdayAll Day
SundayAll Day
ThursdayAll Day
TuesdayAll Day
WednesdayAll Day

Activities

Arts and CultureTheaterAuto and ATVScenic DrivingHikingHorse Trekking

Getting There

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

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressNational Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Santa Fe, NM, 87505
PhoneN/A

Topics & Themes

ArcheologyRuinsArtsPhotographyCommerceTradeExplorers and ExpeditionsHispanic American HeritageWestward ExpansionTrails

Things To Do

Become an Old Spanish Trail Junior Ranger

Become an Old Spanish Trail Junior Ranger

Learn about the Old Spanish Trail and earn your junior ranger badge! This activity can be completed virtually or after…

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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