Great Western Trail - May, OK - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

The Great Western Cattle Trail, also known as the Western Trail, Fort Griffin Trail, Dodge City Trail, Northern Trail, and Texas Trail, wasn’t as well known as some of the other cattle trails but it was longer and carried cattle for two years longer than did the Chisholm Trail. It is estimated in the years that the Great Western Cattle Trail existed between 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 head of cattle move from Texas to Kansas. Each heard averaged 3000 head of cattle, 70 horses, and 10 men. The trail fell from use due to increased use of barbed wire that blocked cattle drives, extension of the railroads further south, and the quarantine of Texas cattle due to "Texas Fever" (caused by a tick). The last reported drive on the Great Western Trail was made by John Rufus Blocker, who drove his herd from West Texas all the way to Deadwood, South Dakota.

Road of Trail Name: Great Western Trail State: Oklahoma County: Harper Historical Significance: One of several major cattle trails used to bring beef from Texas up to Kansas for shipment by rail to the East Coast. Years in use: 1874-1885 How you discovered it: Oklahoma History Class, circa 1975. Book on Wagon Road or Trial: The Western: The Greatest Texas Cattle Trail by Gary and Margaret Kraisinger (978-0975482803) Website Explination: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/great-western-cattle-trail/ Why?: Driving cattle from South Texas to the railheads in Kansas Directions: North side of the highway by the fence line; drive east or west to the posted coordinates.

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