The settlements situated along the Songmao Ancient Road came into being as a result of the mutual influence between the distinctive natural geography and the historical development path characteristic of western Sichuan.These settlements act as crucial carriers for both the tangible and intangible cultural heritage within this area. Grounded in the theory of cultural ecology, this research devises a theoretical framework of “culture-ecology-settlement” with the aim of examining the evolutionary trends of the settlements along the Songmao Ancient Road. Through field investigations and the analysis of village histories and translated documents, the paper traces the development trajectory of these settlements, with a focus on the case study of Jiaochang Village. The findings reveal that Jiaochang Village underwent multiple stages of evolution—formation, development, prosperity, decline, and regeneration. Its spatial structure transformed from a single-center to a multi-center layout. The spatial morphology evolved from a dispersed pattern to a road-centered cluster and eventually to a dual-belt structure. Street and alley patterns shifted from a fishbone layout to a curved belt layout, while spatial quality progressed from meeting basic survival needs to achieving comprehensive improvement. These changes were driven by the combined influence of the natural ecological environment, sociocultural conditions, and ancient road transportation systems. This study offers a novel perspective and diachronic approach to understanding the interactions between ecology, culture, and settlement development along the Songmao Ancient Road. The findings aim to provide valuable insights for the preservation and sustainable development of settlement heritage in this region.