Black Jack Ruts/Ivan Boyd Prairie

Located three miles east of Baldwin City just south of a US Highway 56 roadside park, this site showcases one of the best examples of ruts or swales through which wagons passed in both directions on the Trail. The ruts or swales are nearly as deep as a tall man. Ox-drawn wagons that plied the Trail carved the ruts into the hillside of this ground. Wagons made their way along this Trail from 1821 through the 18702. The 18 acre site is named for Ivan L. Boyd in honor of the late Baker University professor. It is an excellent example of a prairie ground.  This site offers parking and an interpretive trail to learn the story of the Santa Fe Trail.


Contact Information

2011 N 200 Rd

Wellsville, KS 66092