The Aubry Cut-off represents a significant, albeit less adopted, innovation in the history of the Santa Fe Trail. Explored and championed by the indefatigable Francois Xavier Aubry, this alternative route sought to provide a safer and more efficient passage for traders heading to New Mexico, bypassing some of the most treacherous sections of the established paths.
Francois Xavier Aubry was a remarkably dedicated and ambitious young man, constantly driven to find faster and safer routes along the challenging Santa Fe Trail. By the youthful age of 26 in 1850, he had already amassed an impressive record of dozens of trips across the trail, earning a distinguished reputation as a highly skilled wagon train captain. His legendary speed in traversing the trail was also widely recognized, solidifying his status among traders and pioneers.
The Challenges of the Santa Fe Trail’s Cimarron Route
Between 1848 and 1849, Aubry was deeply involved in the lucrative Westport–Santa Fe trade. During this period, he became intimately familiar with the various paths, utilizing not only the popular Cimarron Cutoff and the more arduous Mountain Route but also exploring numerous other alternatives. While he frequently favored the Cimarron Route for its speed, he was acutely aware of its inherent vulnerabilities and dangers.
A particular segment of the Cimarron Cutoff, known as the Jornada, posed immense difficulties for travelers. This 65-mile stretch between the Arkansas River and the lower spring of the Cimarron River, specifically around Wagon Bed Spring, was notorious for its scarcity of water. Beyond the hydrological challenges, the Jornada was also a perilous zone due to frequent encounters with local Indigenous peoples, who rightfully regarded these lands as their ancestral hunting grounds. This combination of limited resources and potential conflict made the Cimarron Route a constant source of anxiety for those undertaking the journey.
Francois Aubry’s Quest for a Better Path
The persistent problems of the Cimarron Route spurred Aubry to actively search for a superior alternative. His ideal route would feature shorter distances between reliable watering points and, crucially, less interaction with potentially hostile Native American groups. In 1850, an incident while traveling along the Cimarron Crossing through Grant County, Kansas, underscored this necessity. Hostile Indians forced him to turn back west, compelling him to make an encircling trip.
It was during this forced detour that Aubry made a crucial discovery. He found Bear Creek, located east of what is now the Colorado state line. From there, he angled northeast until he reached Chouteau Island on the Arkansas River, an area where French traders had previously established a trading post a few miles west of present-day Lakin, Kansas. This exploration confirmed the viability of a new, safer pathway.
Mapping the Aubry Cut-off
Convinced of its superiority, Aubry subsequently used this newly discovered path for all his trading expeditions to Santa Fe, actively encouraging other traders to follow suit. He firmly believed it was the safest and most efficient option available. The Aubry Cut-off began its course along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail, originating at Aubry Spring in eastern Hamilton County, Kansas. From there, it traversed through Stanton County, Kansas, and briefly cut across the extreme southeastern corner of Baca County, Colorado. The route then continued into Cimarron County, Oklahoma, eventually leading to Cold Spring, located near Boise City.
At Cold Spring, the Aubry Cut-off seamlessly reconnected with the main Cimarron branch of the Santa Fe Trail, proceeding onward past historical landmarks such as Camp Nichols. One of its most significant advantages was that the distance between any two watering points along this route never exceeded 30 miles, a stark improvement over the Jornada’s grueling waterless stretch. Furthermore, the area through which the cut-off passed generally experienced less conflict with Indigenous populations, primarily because there was little game to attract large hunting parties.
Legacy and Impact of the Aubry Cut-off
Despite its undeniable benefits—being somewhat shorter and undeniably easier to travel than the Cimarron Cutoff, particularly concerning water availability and safety from conflicts—the Aubry Cut-off did not achieve widespread adoption among the majority of Santa Fe travelers. Many continued to use the first cutoff they encountered, perhaps due to established habits or a lack of detailed information regarding Aubry’s alternative.
Nevertheless, Francois Xavier Aubry’s foresight and persistent exploration represent a vital chapter in the history of westward expansion and the Santa Fe Trail. His dedication to improving the journey for countless traders highlights the relentless spirit of those who sought to conquer the American frontier. The Aubry Cut-off stands as a testament to one man’s unwavering commitment to innovation and safety, even if its full potential was never widely realized by the masses it aimed to serve. It remains an important historical marker for those studying the intricacies and alternative paths of this iconic American trade route.
