Bent’s New Fort

Standing on the site of the fort, looking South across the Arkansas River valley.

Another view looking south from the fort site.

Bent's New Fort is a historic site along the Santa Fe Trail a few miles west of Lamar, Colorado. The old fort was west of there, and had been established in 1833. In 1846, it became the staging area for the Army of the West, and eventually was abanded by Bent.

This gives a bit of information about the location and history.

In 1853, William Bent built a new for on a cliff above the Arkansas River right on the Santa Fe Trail. Eventually the Army moved in on him again and this was the staging point for the Sand Creek Massacre of about 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

Not sure exactly what critters are living here, but the place is full of good sized burrows. Almost like a prairie dog town, but not quite.

With the toe of my shoe as a size comparison, this hole went straight down for several feet.

The way the ground is chewed up around the opening, I would say this is an active residence. The holes are big enough I could stick my entire arm in.

All that is left now is the foundation and earthworks.

Looking west at the Arkansas River.

Standing on the remains of the earthworks looking north. Just past the fence is where the Santa Fe Trail passed by.

A few elderly nails someone laid beneath the sign board.

Down the hill from the fort, looking north at the area where the Santa Fe Trail passed by. On the right side next the the first pole you can see a marker by the road of where the trail crossed.

This is the only wildlife I got a picture of that day.

I took all of these pictures with a Nikon D780 and 50mm f/1.4 lens. I decided to try some black and white with my editing on this.