Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

PLACES THAT KEEP THE PAST CLOSE

A story worth following.

Trace the stagecoach mail network that linked the Mississippi Valley and California before the Civil War. Museums and historic stations tell a story of long distances, demanding travel and changing communities.

A cross and bell on the roof alcove of a white stucco church. — A site along the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
NPS Photo · Public domain, NPS

A historic stone wall stands in ruins next to a hiking trail leading into the Guadalupe Mountains NP — Visit the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail to a take a step back in time.
NPS Photo · Public domain, NPS

BUILD YOUR OWN CHAPTER

Places to begin

Fort Smith
El Paso
Warner’s Ranch region

Suggested starting points, not a turn-by-turn route. Choose a manageable local section; stops may be far apart.

Make the visit work for you

Choose a regional section. Surviving station locations vary in public access; do not follow old traces onto private land.

Give the story time

Allow time for interpretation, a short walk and conversations. One well-chosen historic place can be more rewarding than a rushed list of stops.

Bring your group comfortably

Confirm parking, restrooms, walking surfaces and group reservations with each site. A historic trail designation does not guarantee coach access.

Official visitor information ↗

U.S. visits only. Historic routes may cross private property or have disconnected public sections. Official links provide current maps, access and operating information. Photographs may show earlier conditions.