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Turquoise Trail

· Sandia Park, NM

Why you should go…

The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway follows Highway 14 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, passing through Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Edgewood, Golden, Madrid and Cerrillos. The route offers views from Sandia Crest, a national forest, historic mining towns turned into art communities, galleries, museums and restaurants. The Turquoise Trail Association promotes the byway and received its National Scenic Byway designation in 2000.

  • #scenic drive
  • #history
  • #art
  • #shopping
  • #views

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Turquoise Trail, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Sandia Peak Tramway

    $25–$50

    One of the world's longest aerial trams, lifting riders 4,000 feet to a summit overlooking five states.

    6.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway

    $25–$50

    Ride the longest aerial tram in the Americas 2.7 miles up to the 10,378-foot summit of Sandia Peak.

    6.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Wildlife West Nature Park

    Under $25

    122-acre nature park east of Albuquerque housing rescued native wildlife that cannot return to the wild.

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    History Buff

    National Museum of Nuclear Science and History

    Under $25

    Congressionally chartered Albuquerque museum tracing the Atomic Age from the Manhattan Project to nuclear medicine.

    12 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Albuquerque

    Free

    The official destination marketing organization for Albuquerque, offering trip planning tools and visitor information centers.

    17 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Loretto Chapel

    Under $25

    A tiny Gothic chapel famous for a spiral wooden staircase with no visible means of support.

    43 mi awayMore like this