Travel along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail to experience and learn from a complicated legacy of 300 years of conflict, cooperation, and cultural exchange between a variety of empires—European and non-European alike.

Spanish troops built a presidio (fort) and chapel at this site during the 1780s to protect settlements in the lower Rнo Grande Valley downstream from El Paso, Texas.

Presidio Chapel of San Elizario, Mission Trail, El Paso, Texas

El Rancho de las Golondrinas was a historic paraje (stopping place) along El Camino Real. “The ranch of the swallows” dates from the early 1700s, and is now being used as a living history museum.

El Rancho de las Golondrinas, La Cienega, New Mexico

Fort Selden was built near the town of Las Cruces in 1865 and housed troops for 25 years. The visitor center offers exhibits on frontier military life during the fort’s heyday and the grounds are self-guided.

Fort Selden Historic Site, Radium Springs, New Mexico

Walk in the footsteps of settlers from the 1600s who had to walk along this dreaded yet unavoidable section of El Camino Real: Jornada del Muerto or Dead Man’s Journey.

Jornada del Muerto, County Roads A013 & E070, Sierra & Doсa Ana Counties, New Mexico

The Tiwa pueblo of Kuaua lies in ruin at Coronado Historic Site. The site includes a rebuilt kiva that displays reproductions of original murals adorning its walls. Be sure to go to the visitor center where some of the original murals are displayed.

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail

Directions

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Nearby Parks

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Antelope Wilderness Study Area

Fort Craig Historic Site

The Box Recreation Area

Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area

Devil's Backbone Wilderness Study Area

Presilla Wilderness Study Area

Jornada del Muerto Wilderness Study Area