Santa Fe Site Seeing - Day Trips - Turquoise Trail

Turquoise Trail

The Turquoise Trail (NM Hwy 14) is quite a wonderful day trip from Santa Fe or a wonderful way to head to or from Albuquerque.

The road follows the route used by the Spaniards on the route from Mexico to Santa Fe. The trail is filled with old mines, incredible rock formations and somewhat new - western movie sets.

One of the most fasinating mines is the Tiffany Turquoise mine. These mines are all on private lands and are vey rarely open to the public. However parts of the Tiffany mine are visible from the Bonanza Creek Road off of Hwy 14. The best time to look at the mine from the road is late evening after a rain storm. The hillside glisten with bits of turuqoise. It is truely a magical site.

Back to Hwy 14 head towards Albuquerque. You will pass through the charming villages of Cerrillos, Madrid and Golden. Both were once thriving mining towns and now each hold their own special charm.

As you contuinue your journey you will find yourself behind the Sandia mountains. As the road curves you will pass through Tijeras and Cedar Crest, and then boom. You are back to freeways and traffic.