Arkansas River Crossing

The Taos (or Trappers) Trail led north from Taos to Fort Laramie in present eastern Wyoming. It crossed the Arkansas River in today's downtown Pueblo. The original ford was located half a mile west of the mouth of Fountain Creek, at the northern tip of what was formerly a sharp meander in the river. Just beyond the ford the old trail hooked up with the later Arkansas River Road to follow the divide trail up along the east bank of Fountain Creek.

Juan de Ulibarri, 29 July 1706.

“We arrived at the large river which all the tribes call the Napestle [Arkansas]. Having recalled the name of the senor governor and captain-general, I named it after his saint, calling it Rio Grande de San Francisco because of the memorable glory of his Christian zeal. It runs from north to east. It is much more than four times as large as the Rio de Norte and bathes the best and broadest valley discovered in New Spain. It has many poplar trees and throughout the upper part most beautiful open stretches. The plain on our side is a strand of a long league of level land and extremely fertile as is shown by the many plums, cherries, and wild grapes which there are on it. I was particularly surprised to observe that the time taken to cross it was about the equivalent of thirty-three Credos recited very slowly. Having crossed happily from one side to the other, we passed the night.”

Source: Diary of the Ulibarri Expedition in After Coronado, translated and edited by Alfred Barnaby Thomas. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966).

Rufus B. Sage, 19-22 September 1842.

“Sept. 19th. Leaving Daugherty's creek we resumed our course, and reached the Arkansas the next day, about noon. Here we encamped in a small grove of cottonwood upon the right bank ....

“Sept. 22d. Crossing the Arkansas, I for the first time set foot upon Mexican soil.”

Source: Rocky Mountain Life, by Rufus B. Sage. (Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1982).

Francis Parkman, 21 August 1846.

“In spite of the warm sunset of that evening the next morning was a dreary and cheerless one. It rained steadily, clouds resting upon the very treetops. We crossed the river [Arkansas] to visit the Mormon settlement. As we passed through the water, several trappers on horseback entered it from the other side. Their buckskin frocks were soaked through by the rain, and clung fast to their limbs with a most clammy and uncomfortable look. The water was trickling down their faces, and dropping from the ends of their rifles, and from the traps which each carried at the pommel of his saddle. Horses and all, they had a most disconsolate and woebegone appearance, which we could not help laughing at, forgetting how often we ourselves had been in a similar plight.”

Source: The Oregon Trail, by Francis Parkman. (New York: Airmont Publishing Co.)

Ellen Hundley, July 1856.

“July ll...reached the Arkansas river and camped good grass here was a trader camped on the opposite side of the river with some provision the men went over and brought some corn and coffee and tobacco and beans and a little meal this was fortunate for us as we had been living on wild meat for some time and some were getting sick

“July 12 to day we had some bread for dinner; lay bye to day to trade and rest our horses plenty of mosquitoes”

Source: "From Utah to Texas in 1856," by Ellen Hundley. Covered Wagon Women, Vol.VII, edited and compiled by Kenneth L. Holmes. (The Arthur H. Clark Company, Glendale, California, 1988).

John Dubois 29 March 1858.

“March 29th...We reached the Arkansas River & found a broad bottom covered with trees through which the river ran by innumerable turns. It is about 40 yards wide above the mouth of Fontain que Bouille Creek ....”

Source:Campaigns in the West 1856-1861, ed. by George P. Hammond. (Tucson: Arizona Pioneerts West Society, 1949).

Sylvester Davis, 30 August 1859