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

(click on the maps for a lager view)















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.

Ransom Canyon / Yellow House Draw Trail

Ransom Canyon / Yellow House Draw Trail

I believe this trail was one of the more difficult. It starts out at pretty good location but the water sources west of Coyote Lake are not real good. There are a couple of big salt lakes that would not have been good for people or livestock. Portales Springs was documented as having good water. From Portalas Springs to Tiban Mesa there was limited water resources and the terrain would have also been very sandy.

This trail went right along the south side of the sand hills that stretch from just north of present day Littlefield TX to west of Melrose NM. It would have been very difficult for carts to travel across these sand hills.

(click on the map for a larger view)
















Ransom Canyon (named for the place where the Comancheros held and exchanged the captives they held for ransom). This area has several fresh water springs as well as other natural resources need for extended living needs.



Traveling up Yellow House Draw you can find several large lakes that should have been big enough to provide acceptable water for both people and livestock. The first of these is Yellow House Lake and Bull Lake. From there they would have traveled to the lakes at present day Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge just south of Needmore TX. Next is Coyote Lake. This location shows up in a couple of accounts of Comanchero trail history. These accounts then take the trail to Portales Springs.

The trail then would have traveled on to Tierra Blanca Lake (not connected to Tierra Blanca creek) and then on to Little Tule Lake Springs (not connected with Tule creek). From there they would have continued on moving north west to Stinking Springs and on to Tiban Springs. Once reaching this point they hooked up with the trail that went to Bosque Redondo and then north to Anton Chico or Chaperito.

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