Trail of Turquoise

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by SunGrins

Are you asking about the scenic route "Turquoise Trail" on Hwy 14 through Cedar Crest and Madrid and on to Santa Fe?

Originally Posted by TruckerDavidJohn

Yes I am.

Okay

You have some good replies.

There are some interesting sights along the way.
Going north, you will see, pretty much in succession, the Sandias on the left, on the right... South Mountain is an old volcano. San Pedro Mountains and then Ortiz Mountains -- site of an early gold strike. Lots of mining history along that route. Golden was a mining town (gold?). Madrid was a coal mining town. Further along is Los Cerillos and the Cerillos Hills on the left (a state park). The Pueblo Indians mined turquoise there and some people still do. The Indians traded it all the way to Yucatan for Macaws. At Los Cerillos, you can bail out of Hwy 14 and take Waldo Canyon Road (unpaved) all the way to I-25 just north of La Bajada or go on north to Santa Fe on Hwy 14. There are places to discover in Madrid and Cerillos and up near Santa Fe if you want a cold beer or do some browsing. You can drive up to the top of the Sandias. There is also the Golden Open Space area managed by Albuquerque on La Madera Road (left off of the highway) but that is some distance out of the way.

[TruckerDavidJohn]

Thanks, SunGrins for your reply, all good info in this thread. Some colorful and informative website's also available and I have taken a look at them. Now, this heat has to subside a bit for me to take on this day excursion, but I do plan on it.

Thanks again...

[ABQSunseeker]

Originally Posted by TruckerDavidJohn

Thanks, SunGrins for your reply, all good info in this thread. Some colorful and informative website's also available and I have taken a look at them. Now, this heat has to subside a bit for me to take on this day excursion, but I do plan on it.

Thanks again...

I join the others who say it is worth the trip. Very interesting, very New Mexico. A stop in Madrid should be made. And the scenery north of Madrid is very attractive.

[TruckerDavidJohn]

Originally Posted by ABQSunseeker

I join the others who say it is worth the trip. Very interesting, very New Mexico. A stop in Madrid should be made. And the scenery north of Madrid is very attractive.

I did stop off in Madrid on my return trip. Stopped off at the Mine Shaft Saloon. Had a Green Chile Cheese Burger w/Texas Fries. They knocked off 1/2 off my diner bill cause I complained about the under cooked burger. I asked for medium done and it came to me rare. I made a comment to the waitress and told her that I normally do not complain but this was pushing the limits. So, she knocked off the price of my bill, I insisted she didn't have to but she insisited she had, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Side noteL: The dinner was very good.

[TexasRedneck]

I'd forgotten about this route - thanks!!