Through Edwards County, Kansas, the Santa Fe Trail’s Wet and Dry Routes continued. The Wet Route ran between the Arkansas River and the parallel stream of Big Coon Creek, passing by the present sites of Nettleton and Kinsley. The Dry Route stayed four to six miles from the river, crossed Little Coon Creek about three miles West of Kinsley at the Battle of Coon Creek, and passed out of the county about a mile South of the present village of Offerle.

Wet Route (Mountain Branch) Through Edwards County

In Edwards County, the Wet Route continued about five miles from the site of Love’s Defeat to another Indian attack site, the Battle of Coon Creek. A marker on the left side of U.S. Highway 56 designates the spot where Comanche and  Apache Indians attacked a military escort for a paymaster and wagon train on July 18, 1848.

Several trail routes are still visible as the path continues into Ford County.

Dry Route (Cimarron Branch) Through Edwards County

Along the Dry Route, the trail reached the Big Coon Creek Crossing, once a stage station established in 1863. After the stage station was abandoned in 1867, the U.S. Army briefly occupied it as an outpost known as Fort Coon. Here, you can see cutdowns on both sides of the creek. In the Santa Fe Trail days, this stream was called Big Coon Creek; however, it is actually a tributary of Coon Creek and is presently called Little Coon Creek.

About eight miles further down the path was a campsite on the stage company’s route called Dinner Station. As the path enters Ford County, numerous ruts remain visible along the way.

 

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated September 2026.

Also See:

Kansas Santa Fe Trail Photo Gallery

Kansas – The Sunflower State

Santa Fe Trail Across Kansas

Santa Fe Trail – Pathway to the Southwest

See Sources.