Touring the Turquoise Trail

A view of the Sandias from Cerrillos Hills State Park. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The Turquoise Trail connects the Albuquerque area to Santa Fe. The current trail follows New Mexico State Road 14 between Tijeras and Santa Fe, a distance of nearly 53 miles. Unlike Interstate Highway 25, this road follows a path on the east side of the Sandia Crest.

Entering Madrid (locals pronounce it "MAD-rid") from the north. Photo by Jim Schnur.

This National Scenic Byway also includes New Mexico State Road 536, a road that connects with NM 14 at San Antonito and takes you to Sandia Crest. Let's enjoy a tour of some destinations along the Turquoise Trail. As a bonus, we will take a rough ride down an unimproved road between the Sandias and Placitas. 

Tijeras and the East Mountain

Beginning our journey as we leave Albuquerque for the East Mountain. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The southern gateway to the Turquoise Trail begins in the Village of Tijeras, at the intersection with Interstate 40. Portions of this highway cover sections of the original U.S. Highway 66 (Route 66), the Mother Road that opened up travel through the American Southwest.

Part of New Mexico State Road 333 in Tijeras and Carnuel was once Route 66. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Pueblos existed in the Tijeras area since at least the 1200s. Trading posts along early pathways connected cultures. Although a separate village within Bernalillo County, Tijeras maintains close ties with nearby Albuquerque.

A Tijeras Canyon Trading Post in 1939. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

The East Mountain Library in Tijeras is part of the Albuquerque Library System. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The Luis Garcia Veterans Park in Tijeras is a nice place to stop near the library. Photos by Jim Schnur.

A few miles north of Tijeras, the areas of Cedar Crest and San Antonito have a number of shops, restaurants, and arts venues often visited by those who drive along the Turquoise Trail. The East Mountain Historical Society preserves a past that dates to before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Cedar Crest traces it beginnings to a settlement established in 1924. San Antonito is where we will take a 27-mile roundtrip to Sandia Crest.

Crafting pottery in Cedar Crest in 1949. Courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Bureau Coll.

A view of East Mountain communities from Sandia Mountain. Photo by Jim Schnur.

An October Visit to Sandia Crest

Fall colors while driving in Cibola National Forest to Sandia Crest. Photo by Jim Schnur.

At San Antonito, a roundabout allows us to take a drive along a mountain road to Sandia Crest. Before entering Cibola National Forest, we will pass through the small community of Sandia Park.

 Albuquerque sits one mile above sea level; Sandia Crest is a mile above the Duke City. New Mexico State Road 536 is a moutainous road that provides access to many recreational areas within Cibola National Forest, as well as the Sandia Peak Ski Area. 

We will take the rough ride to Placitas after our Turquoise Trail adventure. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway offers numerous picnic and hiking locations. The highest portions of the road above the ski area may be closed occasionally during the winter.

Looking north from the 10K Trailhead as we drive to Sandia Crest. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The Sandias resulted from a geologic uplift, creating distinct ecosystems on each side of the mountain. Forests dominate on the eastern slope and adjacent hills, while the granite rocks on the western slope stand high above the drier lands of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. 

An eastward view from Sandia Crest. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Views of Albuquerque a mile below Sandia Crest. Photos by Jim Schnur.

Looking toward Albuquerque's North Valley, Rio Rancho, and the Sandia Pueblo. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The beautiful New Mexican sunsets change the hue of these mountains. They transition from gray to orange to a bright crimson on many days. The shape of the mountain and its reddish color at sunset resembles a watermelon. The word "sandia" means "watermelon" in Spanish.

A view of the Sandias at sunset from the Rio Rancho Bosque. Photo by Jim Schnur.

A Sandia sunset view from the Embudito Trailhead in Albuquerque. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Fall colors accentuate the beauty at Sandia Crest. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The long-vacant Sandia Crest House is scheduled for demolition. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Numerous television and radio towers rise above Sandia Crest, broadcasting to much of north-central New Mexico. The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is another way to reach a section of the Sandias about 1.25 miles to the southest of Sandia Crest, where the elevation is 10,678 feet above sea level.

The towers on Sandia Crest in October, and after the first snow in November. Photo by Jim Schnur.

From Golden to Madrid

The Vista Grande Community Center, a popular East Mountain gathering place, offers a great location to see the easterm slope of the Sandias. Photos by Jim Schnur.

A mining structure in Golden. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

Located 18 miles north of Tijeras, Golden once had been the site of one of the earliest gold rushes that occurred west of the Mississippi River. Prospectors searched for gold in this area in 1825, more than two decades before the California Gold Rush and when the United States took possession of New Mexico.

The San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church, built in the 1830s, was erected when Golden went by the earlier name of Real de San Francisco. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

After the short gold rush, other mining enterprises arrived during the late 1800s. Today, Golden is largely a ghost town. A drive of 11 miles along the Turquoise Trail north of Golden brings us to Madrid.

Mining Coal and Making Community in Madrid

Driving along the Turquoise Trail through Madrid. Photo by Jim Schnur.

For most of its history, Madrid ("MAD-rid") served as a location for mining both soft and hard coal. American miners arrived by the 1830s, at a time when this land was part of Mexico. Designed as a company town, Madrid supplied coal to the railroads and local industries. Mines went more than 2,000 feet below the surface. Known in the 1890s as Coal Gulch, this company-owned town became known as Madrid in 1894.

The former Albuquerque & Cerrillos Mine in Madrid. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

The Albuquerque & Cerrillos Coal Company managed the town's operation and owned all properties within Madrid a century ago. Madrid had its first magnificent Christmas lights display in 1922, with peak coal production happening during that decade. 

All work and some play: The Madrid Miners minor league baseball team gained a reputation for their fierce competition on the field during the early 20th century. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

Shipment of coal to Los Alamos began in 1943; when the labs there shifted to natural gas in the 1950s, Madrid's economy went into sharp decline.

The coal and power plant during the 1930s. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

By 1960, coal mining ended and Madrid became a ghost town along a narrow state road that is now the Turquoise Trail. Although a few businesses existed, the town's revival did not occur until the owner of most of the land sold the still-standing homes to private parties in 1975. 

A locomotive passes by Madrid's coal and power plant in 1958. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

During the past half-century, Madrid has reinvented itself as an artistic community. Low rents during the mid-1970s attracted free spirited folk who transformed the former coal mining town into an arts and crafts community. 

These miners in the late 1950s saw the local coal industry come to an end. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

A coal community in transition, circa 1980. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

Parking is at a premium in Madrid today. This small settlement attracts crowds who visit boutiques and enjoy a mountain escape while traveling the Turquoise Trail.

A mid-November drive through Madrid. Photos by Jim Schnur.

Hill Country around Los Cerrillos

Arriving at Los Cerrillos for a visit. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Los Cerrillos (sometimes just known by locals as "Cerrillos") is a short drive of less than four miles from Madrid. Long before European colonists arrived in the Americas, Ancestral Puebloans extracted galena (a source of silver) and turquoise from the hills and valleys of this region. 

Hilly terrain between Madrid and Los Cerrillos. Photos by Jim Schnur.

In Spanish, "los cerrillos" means "the hills" or "the little hills." Pottery and other remnants indicate that many cultures lived in this hilly area long before the Spanish arrived. 

Native and Spanish settlers sought mineral wealth from these hills. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Mining under Spanish colonial rule began before 1600, and the area received this name because of the wealth extracted from "the little hills." Tensions often existed, especially since colonizers frequently forced Indigenous peoples into slave labor conditions.

Prospecting parties continued to search lands around Los Cerrillos in the 1880s. Courtesy of Palace of the Governors, UNM Digital Coll.

As mining diminished in Los Cerrillos by 1900, connections between this community and nearby coal miners in Madrid remained strong. Locals supported an opera house and other establishments, though Los Cerrillos never developed into a larger settlement.

The number of hotels and saloons has decreased, but the history remains strong. Photo by Jim Schnur.

A guide to places in Los Cerrillos at First Street and Main Street. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The former opera house in Los Cerrillos. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Visitors today will see remnants of the frontier town, a community that has a few studios and galleries, a mining museum, a petting zoo, and access to a state park. We will visit Cerrillos Hills State Park after a quick tour of the town.

Buildings on First Street, in the heart of town, some open, some closed. Photos by Jim Schnur.

St. Joseph Parish Church and its Shrine to Mary in Los Cerrillos. Photos by Jim Schnur.

A Hike in Cerrillos Hills State Park

The visitor center for the state park sits in the heart of Los Cerrillos. Photo by Jim Schnur.

If your travels ever bring you to Los Cerrillos, plan to visit the nearby Cerrillos Hills State Park. This year-round, day-use park highlights the mining history that has occurred in this region for more than a millennium. Turquoise and other minerals and gems from these hills brought many prospectors to this area.

The intersection of Camino Turquesa (Turquoise Trail) and Yerba Buena (Good Herb) near the park entrance. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Cerrillos Hills State Park is located a short distance north of the Village of Los Cerrillos. Similar to many state parks in New Mexico, facilities are limited and the roads are unpaved, narrow, and rough in spots. Those visiting during summer months should bring sufficient water, and guests throughout the year should assume that the visitor center may not be staffed. Cellular phone service is generally good.

Entering the state park just north of Los Cerrillos. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Over millions of years, rich deposits of copper, galena, iron, turquoise, zinc, and manganese formed in the magma and hot springs that had once dominated in this area. Early human settlers found these rich deposits, often near the surface.

Driving along Camino Turquesa, the park's only road. Photo by Jim Schnur.

During my mid-November visit, I saw five of the former mines within the park, as well as the Mirador Overlook. Traffic in the park was light and afternoon temperatures in the mid-50s were perfect.

This portion of the Cortez Mine Trail was too steep for horses or bikes. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The first Puebloans who came to this area found many of the blue turquoise stones on or near the surface of the ground. They noticed that the stones' colors resembled the sky and water, two life forces. Silvery galena from this region was sometimes used as glaze for pottery

Deep entrance into the Cortez Mine. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Spaniards also collected much of the galena. The silver from the galena enriched the empire, while lead and zinc extracted from the galena were used for other purposes, including munitions.

Harvesting galena at the Silver Bell Lode Mine on the Cortez Mine Trail began in 1879. Photo by Jim Schnur.

A southwestern view to some of the spots we have previously visited. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The paths take you to hills, canyons, and many scenic locations. Benches provide places to rest, but be sure to bring water along with you.

Taking the Escalante Trail to other mines and the Mirador Overlook. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Manganese harvested from rocks in the Rosellia Lode strengthened steel. Photos by Jim Schnur,

Many of the mines at this location were harvested from the 1870s through the 1890s, the peak of mining activities in the Los Cerrillos region. Ironically, the railroad networks in existence made harvesting of some minerals, such as iron, less lucrative since they could be transported great distances by rail.

Former mines along the Mirador Trail. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Nearby hills and ridges visable at the Mirador Overlook in the state park. Photos by Jim Schnur.

Iron was mined from the Wexford Load in the late 1800s. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Gardens, Galleries and Great Scenery

The Box Studio & Sculpture Garden north of Los Cerrillos. Photo by Jim Schnur.

As we drive north of Los Cerrillos, we notice occasional galleries and enjoyable pull-outs alongside the ranches and open spaces south of Santa Fe. Although it pales in comparison with its counterpart in Colorado Springs, a small roadside Garden of the Gods exists on the road to Santa Fe.

The Garden of the Gods along the Turquoise Trail in Santa Fe County. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Bonus Coverage: A Rocky Sandia Road

Beginning our journey down a rocky Sandia road. Photo by Jim Schnur.

New Mexico State Road 165 is a relatively short road, less than 17 miles in length. Nearly ten miles of the road from U.S. Highway 550 and Interstate 25 are hilly and paved, offering a pleasant view of the Sandias, Cibola National Forest, and the community of Placitas. However, the 7.6-mile stretch of this road between Placitas and the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway (New Mexico State Road 536) can be a challenge anytime of the year.

The road narrows by Balsam Glade and becomes rough soon thereafter. Photo by Jim Schnur.

The Balsam Glade Picnic Site is the last place that you can safely turn around for a few miles along this road. This two-way road is barely able to handle a vehicle driving one way or the other. Expect to drive around a variety of rocks and uneven surfaces.

The drive from Balsam Glade to Placitas is almost entirely downhill. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Four-wheel drive vehicles should be fine when there is no snow or ice. Avoid driving a rental vehicle here, however. One of the last roads to get plowed in New Mexico, this section of NM 165 gets little use througout the year. During my drive on this portion of the road, only one car passed me heading in the opposite direction.

Approaching the Palomas Peak Trailhead on a bumpy road. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Verdant vistas are common along NM 165. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Another great overlook to enjoy. Photos by Jim Schnur.

Though the road gets slightly better near Placitas, some rough patches remain. Photo by Jim Schnur.

Before leaving Cibola National Forest, I stopped at the only paved area along this stretch of road, the picnic area at Las Huertas Creek. A beautiful location in Las Huertas Canyon, the creek still had a gentle flow of water during my visit at the end of July, something I did not expect since we had little snow in this area during the previous winter.

A quick stop at Las Huertas before heading home. Photo by Jim Schnur.

On a future adventure, I will take you to one of the most amazing places on this rough and challenging road, the Sandia Cave. 

I hope you enjoyed our journey along the Turquoise Trail and this drive back down the Sandias.