Wayside: Sand Creek as a Camp Site

An interpretive sign about travel on the plains

NPS Photo - Teri Jobe

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Camp Site Along the Smoky Hill Lodgepole Trail

In the 1800’s Plains tribes like the Cheyenne and Arapaho moved their camps using travois to carry their possessions. Made by securing lodge poles to a horse, the ends of the
travois dragged along the ground, creating trails across the prairie. These trails came to be known as lodge pole trails. 

When moving to a different camp, the tribes would go from
one water source to the next, generally within the distance a person could walk in a day. Rivers, creeks, small lakes, and springs were favorable camping areas. The Smoky Hill Lodge Pole Trail had many such areas along it, including Sand Creek. The Cheyenne, Arapaho, and the other plains tribes used these trails and camped by water sources near them. 

In October, 1864, the Cheyenne and Arapaho chose Sand Creek as their camp site while they waited for news on peace talks. There were many reasons to choose Sand Creek. Even when water wasn’t present in the creek, a trench could be dug into the creek bed and the water that pooled into it supplied camp livestock. Fresh water springs nearby provided water for drinking and cooking.