Last updated: August 30, 2024
Place
Northwest Walking Trail Bend: On the Corner of History and Discovery
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Paisano Drive near Chamizal National Memorial
Significance:
Like the Chamizal story, the legacy of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail is complex. It holds human experiences of conflict, cooperation, and cultural exchange.
Designation:
National Historic Trail
Past the grounds of Chamizal National Memorial at the northwest corner of the park, mountains loom over the city of El Paso as the Rio Grande runs its course along the southern edge of the park. Between 1598 and 1882, people traversing the terrain and living along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, would have experienced a similar orientation to these land features.
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, or Royal Road to the Interior Lands, connected Mexico City to Santa Fe, New Mexico. An important thoroughfare for Spain and the United States before the arrival of the railroad, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was a flowing-together of trade, travel, conflict, peace, conquest, resistance, connection, and coexistence. The roadway generally followed the banks of the Rio Grande once it reached the El Paso Valley, along footpaths established by American Indian groups.
Today, most of the trail has been covered by modern roads. The history of the trail corridor remains alive with museum exhibits, visitor centers, and living history demonstrations. The arrows of the posted sign point east and west to invite you to explore points of interest in either direction. Visit the Chamizal National Memorial Cultural Center to pick up a El Camino Read de Tierra Adentro brochure. You can then Embark on the Mission Trail to the east to explore the San Elizario Historic District, or head west to visit the City of El Paso Museum of History at the city’s center or go far west to visit Keystone Heritage Park. Immersive exhibits, cultural experiences, and outdoor recreations of life along the trail await you.