Planning Your New Mexico Day Trip

The Scenic and Historic Area encompasses 15,000 square miles in the heart of central New Mexico, linking Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Enjoy a breathtaking view from atop Sandia Crest, then drive back into history through the mining towns of Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos, alive with art, crafts, theater, music, museums and restaurants.

Along the Turquoise Trail, you can explore unique towns, offering an assortment of interesting museums, recreational opportunities, and more. Prehistoric peoples made their homes here. Spanish missionaries explored the area and battles were fought over this land. Outlaws and Confederate soldiers camped in the area. And Kit Carson marched Navajo people along the Trail during their "Long Walk" to incarceration at Fort Sumner. Scenic views, diverse cultures, extensive history and great outdoor opportunities continue to entice visitors to journey down the Turquoise Trail today.

Tijeras

Tijeras is the gateway to the Turquoise Trail and the bustling mountain communities along its path. Two canyons come together here and the area was first inhabited by pueblo Indians. Stop here at the Cibola National Forest office for area information, brochures and visit the Tijeras Pueblo Archaeological Site. (505) 281-3304. There is a section of Route 333 (part of the old Route 66 system) where the rumble strips play America The Beautiful. The section is eastbound between mile markers 4 and 5, near exit 170.
View stops & shops in Tijeras »

Cedar Crest

The next stop is Cedar Crest. These mountains also boast an archaeological continuum of human activities from the end of the last Ice Age through the present. Hike at 2 Bernalillo County Open Space properties.

View stops & shops in Cedar Crest »

Sandia Park

As you travel north you'll see the Sandia Mountains and Cibola National Forest, a scenic and recreational paradise full of outdoor activities including bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, climbing and skiing. This beautiful area is home to a diverse collection of animals and plants, and birdwatchers come from around the world to witness the hawk and eagle migrations. From mid November through March three species of Rosy Finch call Sandia Crest home, making the area an ideal destination for bird-watchers. Just outside the community of Sandia Park, along the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway, you'll find Tinkertown Museum; a collection of one man's life work that includes a hand carved animated miniature western town and a three-ring circus, open April thru Nov 1st. Follow the Byway, or "Crest Road", through the beautiful Cibola National Forest. During the drive you'll see incredible vistas and pass through five different life zones.

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Golden

In 1825, Golden was the site of the first gold rush west of the Mississippi, before the California and Colorado gold rushes. Originally called Real de San Francisco, around 1880 several large mining companies moved in and changed the name to Golden. The yield was disappointing and the population dwindled. Mining is all but gone from the area, but Golden survives and Mass is held the 1st Sunday of the month at 4:00 pm.

Madrid

Madrid's rich history, dating from the early 1800's, has taken it from the discovery of coal, to a mining town, to today's distinctive artist's community. Because of the unique geology of the area, a phenomenon found in only two other mines in the world, hard and soft coal were mined here with shafts as deep as 2500'. The area was booming in it's heyday supplying coal for the Santa Fe Railroad, local consumers and the US Government. The company town became famous for its Fourth of July parade, lighted Christmas displays and minor league baseball games in the first lighted stadium in the west. When coal use declined the town fell silent. It became a ghost town.

In the early 1970's, artists and craftspeople arrived. They converted old company stores and houses into quality shops and galleries and services. Madrid has an original tavern and soda fountain, the Old Coal Mine Museum and in the summer there are festivals and concerts at the Historic ballpark. The Fourth of July parade & baseball ball game, and Christmas celebrations (weekends before Christmas) have been revived by Madrid's current residents.

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Cerrillos

The area turquoise and lead deposits were critical to the jewelry and pottery making of the prehistoric Indians and these mines influenced Spanish settlement. The Cerrillos mining district is one of the oldest and most marked of the Old Spanish Mineral Developments in the Southwest. In fact, turquoise mined here found its way to the crown jewels of Spain. Cerrillos was full of hearty miners who extracted gold, silver, lead, zinc and turquoise from area mines at its peak in the 1880’s. The miners supported the town’s 21 saloons and four hotels.

While it was once seriously considered as the capitol of New Mexico, today Cerrillos, with its dirt streets, is a picturesque reminder of the Old West. Visit the Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum and Petting Zoo and Broken Saddle stables. There is a visitor center on Main Street for the Cerrillos Hills State Park which has 5.2 miles of hiking and biking trails. The town has been the setting for several motion pictures and TV series, "Nine lives of Elfego Baca", "Young Guns I" and "John Carpenter's Vampires". Saint Joseph’s Church holds mass Sunday mornings at 9:00 am. (505) 471-1562.

View stops & shops in Cerrillos »

San Marcos/Lone Butte Area

Located on a high llano (plateau), this area was once a major center for farming and pottery making in the upper Rio Grande valley, but was abandoned after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. It is now mostly residential. A restaurant, a gas station and other services here; and a side trip on Hwy 45 will lead you past New Mexico’s first movie ranch (over 100 movies made here!) and Bonanza Creek Ranch where movies are often made. Return to Hwy 14 and as you drive on, look at the open range in the direction of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, you may see antelope on the open range.

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Day Trip From Albuquerque, New Mexico

It might be advisable to gas up in ABQ before venturing out on the Trail. Take Interstate 40 East to the Tijeras exit (175). Just before the exit, you might see our National Scenic Byway sign. Once you get off the exit, you can head south to our United States Forest Service Ranger Station (1 mile) which is where the byway starts or you can go north toward Cedar Crest. Either way, you are on an incredible journey. Check out this website to see our attractions, lodging, restaurants, and shopping. Or simply pick up our brochure at one of many locations on the byway itself. Whether you spend half a day or several days, you will find our byway has plenty of options for fun!

Day Trip From Santa Fe, New Mexico

It might be advisable to gas up in Santa Fe before venturing out on the Trail.Take Cerrillos Road (NM State Highway 14) south from Santa Fe. As soon as, you go under Interstate 25 you are on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. As you continue your journey south, you will see amazing high desert scenic beauty. View this website to see the many things to do and see on the byway or pick up our brochure with a map at one of many New Mexico locations. Our byway offers plenty of options from a half day visit to one that can last for several days--enjoy!

Staying on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway

For those that want to stay out of cities or just get a quicker start on the day, the Turquoise Trail offers many lodging and camping options.

Hiking on the Turquoise Trail

Hiking, bird watching, geocaching and picnicking are some of the activities you can do at our County Open Space properties. All of the properties are open from dawn to dusk unless otherwise posted.

TIJERAS

CARLITO SPRINGS
NOTE: "Closed for renovation until further notice"

CEDAR CREST

John A. Milne / Gutierrez Canyon Open Space

Location and Hours:
Address: East side of Highway 14 near the Cedar Crest Post Office. The parking area includes space for horse trailers.

Hours of Operation: The trail is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.

Contact: Bernalillo County Open Space staff, (505) 314-0400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Directions: Take I-40 to Highway 14 (Exit 175). Head north on 14 for about 6.75 miles to the village of Cedar Crest. Look for the parking area on the east side of the road, just south of the Post Office.

The John A. Milne/Gutierrez Canyon Open Space provides 720 acres of piñon-juniper forest, stretching from Highway 14 to Gutierrez Canyon Road. The western portion of the property is defined by the San Antonito Arroyo and a set of steep, forested hills, capped with sandstone outcrops. The eastern portion is characterized by steep-sided sandstone canyons.

Elevations here range from 6,100' to 7,600'. Steep-sided, rocky canyons containing usually dry stream beds characterize this property. Pinon-juniper forests dominate this site, but there are also scenic stands of ponderosa pine. Deer, bears and mountain lions are frequent visitors to this area. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the East Mountains from various vantage points in the John A. Milne Open Space.

While a series of informal trails exists on the property available for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, the Open Space Division is currently working to formalize a sustainable trail system. Many of the existing informal trails lead to private property. Please respect all private properties.
Map: https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/documents/GutierrezMilneOS.pdf

OJITO DE SAN ANTONIO

Location and Hours
Address: 30 San Antonio Drive (East Mountains off of Hwy. North 14)

Hours of Operation: The trail is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.

Contact: Bernalillo County Open Space staff, 505-314-0400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In July 1999, Ojito de San Antonio became the first open space property purchased by Bernalillo County. Ojito de San Antonio consists of 88 acres that borders the village of San Antonio de Padua to the east and the Cibola National Forest to the northwest. Bernalillo County constructed 1-1/4 miles of natural surface trails that primarily traverse a north-south ridge on the east half of the property. No facilities.

Ojito de San Antonio takes its name from two nearby springs that also share the same name with two acequias that supply water to Ojo de San Antonio and Acequia Madre. The springs have provided clean drinking water for people and wildlife for centuries, in addition to supplying water to an existing fruit tree orchard. Outside of the acequia-fed riparian and orchard areas, Ojito de San Antonio is characterized by a grassy meadow surrounded by steep, piñon-juniper forested foothills.

Map: http://www.bernco.gov/uploads/files/OpenSpaces/Ojito%20Trail%20Map.pdf

CERRILLOS

Cerrillos Hills State Park

Location and Hours
Address: ½ mile north of Cerrillos village on County Road 59.

Hours of Operation: The park is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.

Contact: Acting Park Manager - Peter Lipscomb
37 Main Street Cerrillos, NM 87010
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(505) 474-0196

Directions: From State Highway 14 turn west into the village of Cerrillos. At the first stop sign, turn right (north) & follow park signs. At the cattle guard, veer left onto CR 59. The main parking is on the left about 1'4 mile up the road.

Cerrillos Hills State Park is located 15 miles south of Santa Fe, on Highway 14 along the scenic Turquoise Trail, in the village of Cerrillos, New Mexico. The 1,098 acre parcel of land is owned by Santa Fe County and managed by New Mexico State Parks. Features include: hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding on five miles of trails with breathtaking views of surrounding mountain ranges. The trailhead is equipped with restrooms, an informational kiosk, and horse trailer parking.
$5 exact change cash or check per vehicle or free with a valid New Mexico State Parks pass. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/cerrilloshillsstatepark.html

Map: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/images/orientationmap.jpg

Ortiz Mountains Educational Preserve

Limited Access - docent led tours.
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/open_space_and_trails_program
For more information contact Maria Lohmann at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or 505-995-2774