What role did the Santa Fe and Oregon Trail play in Western settlement?

It was the way to the West, settlers travelled along the trail to make new homes for themselves, and forts were built along the route, it also made a good trade route. In 1865 (so the internet says) 5,197 men, 6,452 mules, 38,281 oxen and 4,472 wagons travelled along the trail. This all changed when the railroad arrived, but it was a very important trail to the West.