Note: A local auto tour brochure for the Quivira Chapter Area can be found at: http://www.santafetrail.org/chapters/quivira/QuiviraChapterBrochure.pdf
Be sure to visit www.santafetrail.org/geocaching to learn about the PASSPORT ACTIVITY to accompany this Geo Tour. Fry's Ruts, is a 13-acre remnant of the main route of the trail. This trail remnant was associated with the Little Arkansas River crossings about one mile northeast of this site. As the trail approached the Little Arkansas River from the east, it split into two branches four miles to the east of the crossing; the branches converged a little over one mile southwest of the crossing, immediately west of this site. This split of the main route was most likely due to the condition of the two crossings at the river, which were one-quarter mile apart. Scouts would ride ahead to determine which crossing was safest and least difficult to cross and direct the caravan accordingly. This site is nationally significant for its association with the transportation and commerce along the Santa Fe Trail and was nominated to the National Registry as part of the "Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail" multiple property nomination. Fry’s Ruts was listed in National Register August 6, 2013. 3
For more information about this site – the nomination for the placement on the National Registry can be found at: http://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Rice_SantaFeTrailSegment2_fry_rutsNR.pdf
Or go to: http://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=159-116 for information on all Kansas listings.
This container on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail Geo Tour is a military ammunition canister with an identifying Santa Fe Trail Association yellow sticker on the top of the box, under the handle and the dark green geocaching.com ID is on the side of the boxes with the information that provides coordinates, who set the cache and who to contact for information. Each cache contains a logbook to sign, a variety of items that provide information about the Santa Fe Trail as well as swag items. If you are participating in the Passport activity, the code word is located on the inside of the box, on the top of the lid and is clearly identified as Code Word. Permission to set caches has been obtained. We ask that all cachers please respect all property at the sites where our caches are set. Of special interest is a limestone marker placed directly in the Santa Fe Trail ruts by a Boy Scout Troop. It is located at 38° 18.141’ N and 97° 57.325’ W. Placed in 2019 is an interpretive wayside exhibit, near the Boy Scout marker. Also on the property is a silhouette of a wagon and team of oxen placed on the hilltop by the owner of the property. This property, on the Santa Fe Trail, offers a unique opportunity to visit an actual trail rut segment on private property, thanks to the desire of the landowners to share it and work in partnership with the Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association to promote and educate the public about it. Please be respectful of private property and leave no trace as you enjoy this site. If cattle are in the pasture – keep your distance, please. This property, on the Santa Fe Trail, offers a unique opportunity to visit an actual trail rut segment on private property, thanks to the desire of the landowners to share it and work in partnership with the Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association to promote and educate the public about it. Please be respectful of private property and leave no trace as you enjoy this site. If cattle are in the pasture – keep your distance, please.