On the Forest Camping website the section on Kiowa Nat. Grassland information is the following statement:

"For people willing to disperse camp and interested in history should head for Kiowa NG north of Clayton, NM and the Santa Fe Trail. A gate just north of the Santa Fe Trail picnic area provides access to a two-mile stretch of the Santa Fe Trail's Cimarron Route. A high clearance vehicle should be able to manage the two-track path where dispersed camping is possible along the way. While the whole Trail is identified as the Santa Fe National Historic Trail and stretches from Franklin, MO, to Santa Fe, NM, the piece on the Kiowa NG explores a small section and gives one some insight to the challenges and hardships travelers on this Trail must have experienced."

Can someone provide details on the location of the "Santa Fe Trail Picnic Area". Such as which highway is it on and approximate location. GPS coordinates are good as well, if available.

My Delrome Topo compute map doesn't show the Santa Fe Trail crossing Hwy 39, which is the main highway mentioned in the info section.

Thanks

You should find what you are looking for at GPS Coordinates:
N36 39.437, W103 10.847

I've modified the Kiowa info. page to include the above coordinates. When you get there, please confirm that they are correct or provide revised coordinates. They should be at entrance to picnic area or fee board (if there is one - don't remember)

Thanks, good luck and have fun.

Fred,

Thanks for the info and update. It will be June or Sept. before we are able to confirm in person. However Google Earth does confirm your coordinates.

What is really cool, is you can actually see the Santa Fe Trail on Google Earth. GE's coordinates are in degrees only though, as in N 45.1234567. GE's coordinates are N 36.658597 W 103.180811