Santa Fe Trail
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities

This byway is well equipped for passenger vehicles and bicyclists, offering flat or slightly rolling terrain. Highways 160 and 350 from Trinidad to La Junta have two undivided lanes. From La Junta east to the Kansas border on CO 50, the highway varies between two and four lanes. These road segments can easily accommodate passenger vehicle traffic because they have light traffic volume, 12-foot lane widths, and good sight lines. However, the road shoulders are fairly narrow with two-foot widths. Even though specifically designated bicycle routes are not available, long distance bicyclists with panniers can typically be found riding the route on any given day.

The communities along the byway are small, with populations under 10,000 people, so local traffic has minimal impact on visiting pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicle traffic. Bicyclists are permitted on I-25 since there are no alternative routes. Pedestrian usage is concentrated in commercial areas where sidewalks are available.

Many improvements to trails have been implemented. For example, a hiking/biking trail at John Martin Reservoir was constructed in 1997 and is the first leg of a proposed trail connecting the reservoir to Boggsville. Other trail projects include a new trailhead at Lake Hasty swim area, a handicap-accessible trail at Trinidad Lake State Park, and an acquisition of 220 acres in Long's Canyon in conjunction with a new trail and wildlife viewing area.