<P> The other main branch, called the Cimarron Cutoff or Cimarron Crossing or Middle Crossing cut southwest across the Cimarron Desert (also known as the Waterscrape or La Jornada) to the valley of the Cimarron River near the town of Ulysses and Elkhart then continued toward Boise City, Oklahoma, to Clayton, New Mexico, joining up with northern branch at Fort Union . This route was generally very hazardous because it had very little water . In fact, the Cimarron River was one of the only sources of water along this branch of the trail . </P> <P> From Watrous, the reunited branches continued southward to Santa Fe . Part of this route has been designated a National Scenic Byway . </P> <P> Travelers faced many hardships along the Santa Fe Trail . The trail was a challenging 900 miles (1,400 km) of arid plains, desert, and mountains . The natural climate was and is continental; very hot and dry summers, coupled with long and bitterly cold winters . Freshwater was scarce, and the high steppe - like plains are nearly treeless . Water flows in the Pecos, Arkansas, Cimarron, and Canadian rivers that drain the region vary by 90 or more percent in their flows during an average year . Also on this trail, unlike the Oregon trail, there was a serious danger of Native American attacks, for neither the Comanches nor the Apaches of the southern high plains tolerated trespassers . In 1825, Congress voted for federal protection for the Santa Fe Trail, even though much of it lay in the Mexican territory . Lack of food and water also made the trail very risky . Weather conditions, like huge lightning storms, gave the travelers even more difficulty . If a storm developed, there was often no place to take shelter and the livestock could get spooked . Rattlesnakes often posed a threat, and many people died due to snakebite . The caravan size increased later on to prevent Native American raids . The travelers also packed more oxen instead of mules because the Native Americans did not want to risk raiding the caravans only for some oxen . </P> <P> Segments of this trail in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In Missouri, this includes the 85th and Manchester "Three Trails" Trail Segment, Arrow Rock Ferry Landing, Santa Fe Trail - Grand Pass Trail Segments, and Santa Fe Trail - Saline County Trail Segments . The longest clearly identifiable section of the trail, Santa Fe Trail Remains, near Dodge City, Kansas, is listed as a National Historic Landmark . In Colorado, Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route--Bent's New Fort is included on the National Register . </P>

What was the terrain like on the santa fe trail