• Two-wheeled carretas carried goods up El Camino from Mexico City in 1598; walking the trail in the Jornada del Muerto, a scorching 90-mile stretch of El Camino wherein colonists had to leave the cool Rio Grande to continue their journey north

    El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    National Historic Trail NM,TX

The Royal Road to the Interior

Take a journey on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail to savor 300 years of heritage and culture in the Southwest. This Spanish colonial "royal road" in New Mexico and Texas originally extended to Mexico City, Mexico.

Features

  • official logo to El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro NHT

    Howdy Partner

    The National Park Service works with federal, state, county, and local agencies, tribes and private individuals as partners to administer the trail.

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  • La Bajada

    Travel the Trail

    Walk trail segments, and visit museums, historic sites, parks, forts, plazas, and a palace connected to El Camino's rich history from 1598.

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  • El Camino map from Mexico City to Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Pueblo

    A Complete Set of Tools

    Ready to follow the trail? Need a map? Your toolkit includes brochures, maps, and links for trip planning. Go to Multimedia for video/audio/exhibits.

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  • Passport book

    Your Passport to the Parks

    Visit over 15 sites where you can get your book stamped. Sites & location information listed here. Everyone loves the National Park Passport Program!

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  • videos, exhibits, audio podcasts link here

    The Trail Comes Alive!

    Watch videos that will help you travel and experience the trail. Peruse exhibits placed along the route. Listen to tales of this historic journey.

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  • Don Juan Oñate's colonizing expedition to the New World began in 1598

    Much Ado About Something

    This is a story of discovery, adventure, conquest, colonization, trade, wars, and riches. Read all about it through ongoing research papers.

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Did You Know?

Traces of a dirt road, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, stretch across a southern New Mexico desert landscape

For 25 years (1821-1846), when New Mexico was part of the Republic of Mexico, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was the road that Missouri merchants - known as Santa Fe traders - used to reach Mexico's interior markets. Dry goods and hardware were traded for bullion and mules.