Introduction To This Blog

Though several books have been written about the Comancheros, few have completely identified the trails that they used to cross the High Plains / Llano Estacado. Several authors, through their research, have identified individual locations where Comancheros camped or found recorded landmarks that they passed. The effect of the plow and time has erased almost all the physical evidence of the trails the Comancheros left behind. However by researching the many pioneer chronicles and listening to the stories told by many of the pioneers has helped to provide additional clues to the trails. This blog was developed to illustrate what we have found so far.

Hope you find this information beneficial and we look forward to your comments.

Thanks,
Pete Odom & Neal Odom

PS - Be sure and check out the links on the left side of this page.

The 5 Trails of the Comancheros

~~ Click on the maps and pictures for a larger view ~~

• The High Plains / Llano Estacado (gray shaded area)



• Region where the Comancheros "acquired" many of their trading goods (yellow shaded area)



• Los Lingos cart trail (in red)



• Los Lingos livestock trail (in blue)



• Blanco Canyon / Running Water Draw trail (in green)



• Mushaway trail (in purple)



• Ransom Canyon / Yellow House Draw (in yellow)

The names of these trails indicate the point where the Comancheros had their stageing areas. These areas provided food, fresh water, wood, livable climate and a buffer zone between them and the people they "acquired" trade goods from.


Understanding Life on the High Plains

To fully appreciate this region you first have to understand that people could not live on the high plains for an extended period of time. It is a vast open sea of grass interrupted occasionally by a playa lake (a small basin that holds water). There were no trees, no hills, no shelter and very little fresh water. Keep in mind that the high plains region was only settled in the 1890's when windmills were brought in, and those were not brought in until the railroads came through. Until then the high plains was simply a place to travel across and a seasonal hunting ground.

The trails the Comancheros used we established over many centuries as nomadic hunters traveled across the high plains in search of animals for food. Fresh running water was the primary reason for the location of a trail. Secondly was how fast (straight line / smooth travel) they could go to the next location for water.

We maped the locations mentioned in books and from pioneer accounts. We also used satelliteimages, topographic maps, our personal knowledge, and site visits; to develop the detail of the trail locations. Through out the rest of this blog you will see what we have pulled together on these trails.

For more on the High Plains / Llano Estacado click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llano_Estacado

Go to our other blog posting for more on each of the trails...............

Los Lingos - Cart Trail

Los Lingos, near present day Quitaque, was a major camp location for the Comancheros. This location provided the ideal spot for the Comancheros to camp while waiting for ideal conditions to travel across the high plains. The area had ample live water, wood & rock for shelters, abundant game for hunting as well as good grazing area for the livestock they held for trade.























The carts they had were made completely made of wood (wheels, axel, frame and sides) so it was best that they travel on level smooth ground. The smooth Llano Estacado provided the ideal surface for the carts. This smooth terrain not only made for faster travel but it was much easer on the cart. Most likely the carts were kept at the top of the caprock and the trade goods were hauled on horses / mules to the top, and loaded in carts.

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Here is a Google Earth view of the area.

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The Tule Creek Crossing provided the first fresh live water after leaving Los Lingos. On a couple of older topo maps a "Indian camp" is noted on this location. At this location the North Tule and Middle Tule Creek come together. This location is 34.49 latitude, -101.59 longitude. You can use the Terra Server link on the side of this blog to see maps of this location. This location would be about a days travel from Los Lingos.


The Patching Ranch Location
The Comancheros traveled up the North Tule Creek. Early pioneers recorded that there were pockets of live water on the North Tule. At the junction of the North Tule Creek and Dead Mule Creek (Patching Ranch South Pasture) several camp grounds have been found but not documented if they were Indian or Comanchero. However the probability is pretty high that they did camp there. Just to the north 2 miles is the Patching Ranch headquarters. At that location there are seveal imprints of the trails. For more information on this see the Patching Ranch posting on this blog site.

Graham Ranch
This ranch is still in native grass. We have not explored much of this location however some aerial photos do show some signs of old trail. Modern activity on this ranch makes the trails hard to establish.

Tierra Blanca Creek crossing
This is located just east of the junction of Frio Draw and the Tierra Blanca Creek. From there they traveled west to lake Garcia.

(click on the map for a larger view)















Lake Garcia
This is a large deep playa lake and would have been a great water source for people and livestock. This location is mentioned several times in accounts of the trails.


Now - How to get down from the High Plains / Llano Estacado.

Traveling West, at some point you have to come down from the high plains. Just as there is a Caprock escarpment on the east side of the Llano Estacado there is one on the west side. Accounts indicate that there were 3 places to traverse the Caprock. They are:

El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos – Roughly meaning “The port to the Llano / high plains”. This seems to be the location most discussed. Given its location and geography one can understand why. This traverse provided the gentlest slope for carts to come down. For more information and pictures on this location see the El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos posting on this blog.

Boney Hill Traverse – Provided a long narrow slope. Currently there is a county road down this trail.

Abajenous / Norton Traverse – This trail down starts at the top of Apache Canyon. This location has a couple of slopes that would be similar to what is seen at El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos.

Once off the Llano Estacado the Comancheros would have found the easiest traveling close and parealle to the Caprock. By staying close to the Caprock the arroyas they had to cross would not be very deep or wide. Also springs for fresh water were located at the base of the Caprock. It is documented that the trails passed by present day Norton NM. The trails passed to the south of Mesa Redonda and would have gone closely by present day Quay NM. From there they could have gone either north or south of Saddle Back Mesa. The shortest distance would have been to the north and passed by Lovers Peak. From looking at topo & aerial maps it appears the smoother path would have been to the south around Circle Mesa. We need to explore and research this area better to draw a more concise conclusion. Either way the Comancheros would have ended up at the head of Bull Canyon Creek and would have traveled real close to present day Newkirk NM is.

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From the head of Bull Canyon Creek the Comancheros branched off depending on their destination.

If Chaperito (on the Gallinas River) was the destination then they traveled just to the south of Cuervo Hill and past Sabino Springs and Sabino Lake. Traveling across the Mesa Montosa, they then would have entered into the Gallinas river valley just east of Chaperito.

If Anto Chico (on the Pecos River) was the destination then they traveled north of the Horseshoe Bend of the Pecos River past Rock Hole Spring and Puentocito Lake. They would have crossed the Pecos River at Colonias and traveled west across some plains to a point just south of Anton Chico where they could then turn north and travel down into the Pecos river valley. There is a point 7.5 miles south, south east of Anton Chico where they could take carts down from the plains into the Pecos River valley.

From the trading areas of Anton Chico and Chaperito the trade goods were distributed to Santa Fe NM, Pecos NM, and Las Vegas NM.
(click on the map for a larger view)














Here are the coordinates for each location as well as miles between points. Use the Terra Server link with the coordinates below for topo maps and aerial maps. Click here for Terra Server.

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The Patching Ranch

The Patching Ranch was establisedn in 1897 by Fred Patching.


We will put more history in this blog later on the ranch, but for now here are some pictures of the Comanchero trails that cross the ranch.

There are 2 of each picture. The second picture highlights the trail with a yellow line. The last pair of pictures show an old trail EdgerPatching (Fred Patchings son) hauled grain to town on back in the 1930's. It shows how fast a trail can start to disapear.

(click on the pictures for a larger view)

El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos

~~ Rivajenos ~~

(click on the picture for a larger view)

The port to the high plains – This formation provided a gentle slope down from the High Plains / Llano Estacado of Texas into New Mexico. It was one of just a few places that provided a way for the Comancheros to travel with their carts. This Caprock traverse was apparently use a lot. It is often talked about in the journals, conversation accounts and other historical records.

(click on the picture for a larger view)

When scanning satellite photos and topographic maps of the Caprock one can easily see that this is the best location to use for carts. If you have traveled along I-40 looking south one can quickly understand that there are very few opportunities to even ride a horse down the Caprock. Rivajenos is 9 miles to the north-north-west of Garcia Lake. From this view you can see the faded imprints of the trail running back towards Garcia Lake.

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In the spring of 2006 we had the opportunity to tour the area of Rivajenos. Below are some pictures from that trip.

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The slope down Rivajenos.

Looking up the slope.

Looking up one of the trails.

Looking down one of the trails.

Looking down another trail.

Looking down another trail.

Here is the remains of an Indian Tepee circle.

View from about 1/2 mile away looking up.

View from about a mile away.
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Los Lingos - Livestock and Pack Train Trail

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The Los Lingos area was a great basing point. Using the terrain to help start herding the horses and cattle the Comancheros would have moved them north east to where the Little Red and the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River meet. From there they would have traveled north up the Prairie Dog Fork and then up Mulberry Creek. Mulberry Creek would have provided good water for both people and livestock.
















Staying along Melberry Creek they would have traveled pretty close to present day Washburn TX. Leaving Mulberry Creek their next destination was Wild Horse Lake which is located in Amarillo TX just a little ways north west of downtown. The next stop was Tecovos Springs which is a well documented camping spot.

Several of the books that have been written about the Comanchero trails try to take them north from Tecovos to the Canadian river. This comes from historians interpreting “they went along the Canadian river”, as traveled down the river. The reality is that traveling on the high plains above the Canadian River is “traveling along the Canadian river”. Traveling on the plains above the Canadian River would be a whole lot easer and faster than trying to make it through the rough country of the Canadian river breaks. By staying on the high plains and skirting the Canadian river breaks they would have had access to fresh water at many of the springs just off the Caprock.
















Just before going into New Mexico they would have to come down from the Llano Estacado. The best place to traverse the Caprock on this trail is 1.5 miles south of where present day I-40 traverses down. From there the Comancheros would most likely traveled on a course to intersect the main trail close to Norton NM




















After joining up with the Los Lingos cart trail they then traveled the same trail to Anton Chico and Chaperito.

Blanco Canyon / Running Water Draw Trail

Blanco Canyon / Running Water Draw Trail

(click on the maps for a larger view)

We haven’t researched or explored this rout in much detail. However it was know that the water was pretty good and there were several fresh springs along this trail.

The primary camp was in Blanco Canyon on the White River. It would be pretty easy to get up on top of the Llano Estacado with carts in several places. Travel along the Running Water Draw would have been easy traveling.


















Once they got to the head waters of Running Water its documented that they went west to Alamosa Creek and followed it south around Tiban Mesa.
















Bosque Redondo on the Pecos was another camping spot. They would then have traveled up the Pecos past Puerto De Luna (Coronado named this place) and on to Anton Chico or Chaperito.

Mushaway Trail

Mushaway Trail

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Mushaway peak is just south of Gail TX and is a significant land mark in the area. Traveling from the east this peak can be seen from 25 miles away. It is located at the head of the Colorado River. This location would have made a pretty good winter camp. Like the other base camp locations once on top of the Llano Estacado carts would have move easy. I bet a lot of horses and cattle went down this trail.

Traveling up Tobacco Creek they would have found Cedar Lake as a good water source. They then traveled west to Seminole Draw and up it to present day Hobbs NM. From the head of Seminole Draw they had two trails.
















The southern trail went off the Caprock (know as the Mescalero Ridge) just west of Hobbs. Just off the Mescalero Ridge is the Querecho Plains. Several accounts talks about this location. The Laguna Plaia would be a great water source along this trail. Moving on down in to the Pecos Valley the traverse down Gutuna Canyon was a trail location. Clayton Basin was another good water source and also provides for an excellent place to hold livestock. Seven Rivers provided great water and abundant grazing. It is also where the Comancheros turned north and traveled parallel along the Pecos River.

















The northern trail went on to Twin Lakes, located just east of present day Lovington NM. From there the trail went west to the Mescalero Ridge (Caprock). I have found only one really good point to take carts down the Caprock in this area. Its location is Latitude 33.06, Longitude -103.80. The trail then went on to Nakee Ishee Lake and then on to Buffalo Valley on the Pecos River. Then the Comancheros turned north and traveled parallel along the Pecos River.

Traveling north along the Pecos they traveled to Bosque Redondo and on to Puerto De Luna. From there they went on to Anton Chico or Chaperito.