Cerrillos Hills State Park: A Local Guide to the Turquoise Trail
An Outdoor Getaway Along the Turquoise Trail
About 45 minutes south of Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, Cerrillos Hills State Park is one of the best outdoor getaways within easy reach of the city. It’s easy to focus on the galleries and shops in Madrid farther down the byway and miss what’s waiting just outside the historic village of Cerrillos: five miles of trails through old mining hills, wide-open sky, and views stretching toward the Sandia, Ortiz, Jemez, and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges.
Cerrillos Hills State Park: What to Know Before You Go
Cerrillos Hills State Park covers 1,116 acres of high-desert terrain just off NM-14, between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The trail network crosses elevations of roughly 5,900 to 6,100 feet and passes evidence of more than 1,100 years of mining history. Indigenous people mined turquoise and galena here long before prospectors arrived during the territorial mining boom of the late 1800s.
On the ground, primitive trails wind through piñon-juniper hills past historic mine sites marked with interpretive information. Several short sections, including the Mirador Trail, can be combined into different routes depending on how much time you have. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are all allowed on designated trails, and Broken Saddle Riding Company offers guided horseback rides in the area.
The park is open year-round for day use. New Mexico residents pay a small day-use fee depending on the season, and non-residents pay a small fee year-round. The visitor center sits at 37 Main Street in Cerrillos, with exhibits, brochures, and trail maps, while Amigos de Cerrillos Hills State Park runs a small souvenir area nearby. Download both a current park trail map and a Turquoise Trail map before you go, wear sturdy shoes, carry water, and keep pets leashed.
Planning Your Turquoise Trail Day Trip
If you’re weighing state parks near Santa Fe or looking for the best hiking near Santa Fe without a long mountain drive, Cerrillos Hills is one of the easier options to work into an itinerary. It’s close enough to pair a hike with time in Cerrillos, NM, continue south to Madrid, and still make it back to Santa Fe for dinner. For a longer day along the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico, this makes a natural anchor point before you turn back north.
Your Bed and Breakfast in Santa Fe
After a day at Cerrillos Hills, you’ll want a comfortable place to return to. El Farolito Bed and Breakfast sits in a traditional adobe compound in Santa Fe’s downtown historic district, with eight individually decorated rooms and casitas tucked among gardens and patios. Rooms include private baths, quality linens, and in-room coffee service, and many feature private outside entrances and secluded patio space. It’s the kind of privacy and Southwestern character that sets a Bed and Breakfast in Santa Fe apart from a conventional hotel.
In the morning, we serve a generous homemade breakfast in the dining room or on the patio, with a hot entrée, fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt, juices, tea, and freshly brewed coffee alongside home-baked goods. It’s a good way to fuel up before heading toward Cerrillos Hills State Park and the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway. With the Plaza, Railyard, museums in Santa Fe, restaurants, galleries, and Canyon Road all within easy reach, our Bed and Breakfast works just as well as a base for city days as it does for day trips like this one.
Make the Most of Your Santa Fe Itinerary
Cerrillos Hills is just one option for exploring things to do in Santa Fe beyond downtown. When guests ask where else to go, we also point them toward Pecos National Historical Park, the Santa Fe Historic Plaza, and the city’s best museums, all closer to our Bed and Breakfast if you’d rather not drive as far. Whether you head south along the Turquoise Trail or stay close to the Plaza, El Farolito makes it easy to build a full Santa Fe itinerary around whatever mix of hiking, history, and city time you’re after.
Book your stay and let us help you plan your day at Cerrillos Hills State Park and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico?
The Turquoise Trail is a National Scenic Byway running along NM-14 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, passing through historic mining villages including Cerrillos and Madrid, with Cerrillos Hills State Park just outside Cerrillos.
How far is Cerrillos Hills State Park from Santa Fe?
The park is about 45 minutes south of Santa Fe via NM-14 along the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway.
Can you go hiking near Santa Fe with a dog?
Yes. Cerrillos Hills State Park allows leashed pets on its trails, making it a workable option for guests looking to go hiking near Santa Fe with a dog. Always check current trail rules before you go.
What is there to do at Cerrillos Hills State Park?
The park offers five miles of trails through high-desert terrain and historic mine sites, along with hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and a small visitor center with exhibits and trail maps.