The Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association covers approximately 90 miles of the portion of the Santa Fe Trail that traveled through McPherson, Rice, and Barton counties in Kansas. The chapter was organized in 1992. The name Quivira was adopted from the Quivira American Indians, one of the tribes to inhabit the central plains. The Quivira Chapter marks the beginning of the short-grass prairie and the area of the Buffalo.

The Santa Fe Trail enters the Quivira Chapter at the McPherson/Marion County line on the east and near Pawnee Rock on the west. The major cities within the Quivira Chapter are McPherson, Lyons, and Great Bend. U.S. Highway 56 closely follows the Trail through the chapter area. You can reach U.S. Highway 56 from Interstate 70 by traveling south from Salina on I-35 to exit 60 at McPherson. From Wichita, go north on I-35 to the same exit.

Click here to access the three county tour (auto tour brochure). The three county tour is best viewed as a PDF file - it has a detailed map and 25 stops. You can also choose to print it.

A map as well as links to tour stops with in depth site stories are listed below.

Get Involved in Trail History!

There are many ways to learn more about the historic sites on the Santa Fe Trail. 

· Visit other Trail related sites 

· Visit a local museum 

· Follow the local auto tour of the Trail 

· Join the Quivira Chapter

· Join the Santa Fe Trail Association (1 page PDF Application)

· Walk in the ruts that made history! 

For more information visit the SFTA website and follow us on Facebook!