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The Atlas/New Mexico/Turquoise Trail (NM-14)

Turquoise Trail (NM-14)

46 mi
Length
4
Verified stops
7,120 ft
High point
Scenic
Road type

NM-14 is the primary highway of the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, running 54 miles from Tijeras (at I-40 east of Albuquerque) north to Santa Fe. The route traces the eastern flank of the Sandia and Ortiz Mountains through former mining towns including Golden (the site of the first gold rush west of the Mississippi), Madrid (a ghost town turned artist colony packed with galleries and the Mine Shaft Tavern), and Los Cerrillos (a turquoise mining village active since pre-Columbian times). The road alternates between high desert scrub, piñon-juniper woodland, and sweeping valley views — the pavement is smooth and traffic is moderate, making it a popular alternative to I-25 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

// Mile by mile

What you'll hit along the way.

Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.

Mile 0.0

Tijeras

A small village at the mouth of Tijeras Canyon that serves as the southern gateway to the Turquoise Trail.

Mile 5.0

San Antonito

A quiet rural community nestled in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains with views of the surrounding terrain.

Mile 10.0

San Pedro Creek

A small settlement along the creek corridor offering a natural rest point mid-route.

Mile 35.0

Poverty Flats

A sparsely populated area near the northern end of the route where the landscape opens into high desert plains.

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