Last updated: January 15, 2023
Place
Little Arkansas River Crossing
Photo/NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
The Little Arkansas Crossing and related sites are located 5 miles south of Windom KS.
Significance:
An important river crossing and camping spot for Santa Fe Trail travelers
MANAGED BY:
Privately owned
The Little Arkansas River is not a large stream, but it was not an easy river to cross when the Santa Fe Trail was first established in 1821. Major Bennett Riley, in the year of 1829, commented that the Little Arkansas was about ten feet wide with steep banks of fifteen feet high. The bottom of the stream was very muddy. Major Riley's military detachment of dragoons shoveled down the banks to the river to make it passable for the wagons to cross. Some early groups of travelers placed stones in the muddy river bottom to improve the crossing. Some of these stones are still there and can be seen during dry periods when the level of the water in the stream is very low.
This crossing became a major overnight stop and camping area due to problems with making the deep crossing. The crossing would be made upon arrival of a wagon train later in the afternoon just in case an overnight rain would flood the area. When the valley was flooded, a wagon train may have to wait for a few days until the flooding subsided. A wagon would typically be pulled by 8 to 10 oxen or mules. To help pull the wagons through the muddy river bottom, an additional team or two from other wagons would be hitched in front creating double and triple teams to pull the wagons.
Site Information
Location (The Little Arkansas Crossing and related sites are located 5 miles south of Windom KS. Go 5 miles south of the Highway 56 & Plum St/31st Ave road junction and then ½ mile west on Avenue P and turn left into the Camp Grierson park and cemetery on the east side the river. Approximately, 38.304194, -97.937111)