Cody Dalpra’s dog in a trail cut of the Camino Real. The vegetation difference shows the cut of the trail well. Photo by Cody Dalpra

Join Bureau of Land Management District Archaeologist Cody Dalpra for a hike that will have you retracing part of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail. From 1598 when Juan de Oñate set the route to 1881 when the railroad was completed in southern New Mexico, the El Camino Real was the primary commerce and travel corridor connecting Santa Fe to Mexico City. Your guide will discuss the trails importance to the foundation of New Mexico under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule. Stories of the trail and the diverse people who used it will be shared ranging from the famous events that lead to this section of trail being called the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead Man) to more mundane, but equally as interesting experiences of more average traveler. El Camino Real is a big part of New Mexican history that not only has ties to Spanish conquerors, missionaries, traders, settlers, ranchers, and Native Americans, but also Confederate and Union solders during the Civil War, and Buffalo soldiers fighting in the Apache Wars following. The story of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is the story of New Mexico.  

Meet at the pull out immediately adjacent to the Upham exit on I-25 north of Las Cruces. The Upham exit is Exit 32, the exit before Rincon. Its roughly 29 miles north from the center of Las Cruces. We will caravan from there to the Yost Escarpment trailhead. (MAP to Trailhead). The trail is a packed dirt, maintained trail approximately 2.9 miles long. 

Remember to dress appropriately and bring water, snacks, a hat, sunglasses, and good hiking/walking shoes. The hike will be approximately 3 hours long and is of easy to moderate difficulty.

The drive from El Paso is about 1.5-hours long. Plan to leave no later than 8:30 AM.

Sunset from the Yost Escarpment trail. Photo by Cody Dalpra