Last updated: June 15, 2026
Place
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, the Santa Fe Trail
NPS Photo/Teri Jobe
Quick Facts
Location:
55411 County Rd W, Eads, Colorado.
Significance:
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is located along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
Designation:
National Historic Site; Historic site on the Santa Fe NHT.
Amenities
11 listed
Accessible Sites, Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Table, Restroom, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Water - Bottle-Filling Station
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site lies within the vast, rolling plains of southeastern Colorado, a landscape that once formed a critical segment of the Santa Fe Trail corridor. Broad grasslands stretch across the site, interrupted only by the meanders of Big Sandy Creek, which flows through gentle ravines—terrain familiar to 19th-century traders, emigrants, and Plains tribes.
This massacre of nearly 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people by the US Army occurred on November 29, 1864, when 675 soldiers of the First and Third US Colorado Volunteer Cavalry attacked and destroyed a peaceful village, killing mostly women, children, and the elderly.
Tensions between settlers and the Cheyenne and Arapaho people had been building for many years. Activity on the Santa Fe Trail contributed to the situation that resulted in this tragic event.
Today, visitors approach via dirt roads that trace the same natural alignments used by wagons and caravans heading southwest. The open sky, minimal tree cover, and wide horizons evoke the experiences of early travelers navigating the high plains under sun, wind, and occasional sudden storms. Interpretive signage, a commemorative hilltop monument, and clearly marked walking paths line these historic routes, inviting reflection on the layers of history—both the Native communities and emigrant travelers—and the tragic events of 1864.
By preserving both natural features and interpretive elements along the ancient trail route, Sand Creek provides a solemn connection between the Santa Fe Trail’s role in expansion and trade, and the devastating consequences of conflict. The result is a striking landscape where physical geography and history converge, offering visitors a poignant lens on the intersection of westward migration and Indigenous tragedy.
Site Information
Location (55411 County Rd W, Eads, Colorado.)
Safety Considerations