Scenic Drives  |   Turquoise Trail

2-3 hours between Albuquerque and Santa Fe

This trail takes its name from the old indian trail between Santa Fe and Los Cerrillos (little hills). Pueblo Indians mined turquoise from the region long before the commercial mines opened up in the region during the 19th century.

You could easily take this route up to Santa Fe from Albuquerque instead of the faster, hour-long direct route up I-25. With the exception of a small detour up to the Sandia crest it's more or less a straight shot.

From Albuqurque you'll start the drive through the Sandia Mountain Wilderness area. A drive up to the crest will put you at just over 10,600 feet offering great views of Albuquerque and the surrounding region. Just off the road and close to NM 14 is located the very eclectic Tinkertown Museum. This roadside oddity is well worth stopping in to visit.

Closer to Santa Fe are the towns of Los Cerrillos and Madrid, two former mining towns that are popular weekend spots for antique and art collectors. Madrid has a thriving bohemian community as well and most recently served as the setting for the film Wild Hogs. A great activity is to sit in one of the outdoor cafes along the main street and watch the oddball collection of characters parade by.