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El Camino Real Buckman Road Retracement Project - Frequently Asked Questions

What is El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail?

During the colonial years, New Mexico was tied to the outside world by a single thoroughfare that descended the Rio Grande valley from north of Santa Fe, dropped through the natural gate at El Paso, and wended its way via the provinces of the old Viceroyalty of New Spain to Mexico City, some twelve hundred miles to the south.

This artery of commerce and travel was known as El Camino Real, which meant Royal Road or King’s Highway. Of the great highways leading north, this was the oldest, having been extended by segments throughout the 16th century. For a time, it also enjoyed the distinction of being the longest road in North America.

Some of El Camino Real had its earliest beginnings as Indian trails. Later, sections of the route were traversed by Spanish conquistadors and colonizers. Finally, with the coming of Juan de Onate's expedition in 1598, the full length of the trail was defined. During the subsequent 300 years, it witnessed increasingly varied traffic as quantities of trade goods and representatives of different cultures traveled it, bringing with them currents of change that would forever alter the face of this land.

Largely forgotten in modern times, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro has recently been designated as a National Historic Trail in recognition of its cultural and historic significance.

What is the significance of El Camino Real?

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is recognized throughout the United States of America and Los Estados Unidos de Mexico as a timeless route of trade and cultural exchange and interaction among Spaniards and other Europeans, American Indians, Mexicans, and Americans. Trade and travel on this trail shaped individual lives and communities and affected settlement and development in the greater Southwest. Recognition of this route as an international historic trail commemorates a shared cultural heritage and contributes in a meaningful way to eliminating cultural barriers and enriching the lives of people along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.

What is the National Historic Trail System?

As a part of the national trails system created under the National Trails System Act of 1968, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail was designated by Congress in 2000. The national historic trail extends 404 miles from El Paso Texas to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico. National historic trails as defined under the national trails system act are to be: extended trails which follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance.

Under the authorities of the National Trails System Act the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management jointly “administer” the national historic trail. This means that they do not necessarily own or manage land for which the designated trail goes through but have broad authorities to work with others in partnership towards the preservation of historic trail sites and segments as well as to develop the trail for public use and enjoyment. In some cases the designated route of the trail may go through federal or other public land and is by authority of the act considered a “federally protected component.”

What is El Camino Real Buckman Road Retracement Project?

This project is a multi-partner project with the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Santa Fe County, and the Transit In Parks Technical Assistance Center (TRIPTAC) to develop a conceptual trail plan for a non-motorized segment of the national historic trail connecting to the existing developed national historic trail segment in Santa Fe County. The proposed Buckman Road Segment of the trail would follow the historic route of El Camino Real through Santa Fe County. This historic route of the trail is believed to be the most likely alignment of Don Juan de Oñate’s original route North that connected to San Idelfonso Pueblo and then split with routes on both sides of the river to the original capital site of Ohkay Owingee (San Juan Pueblo) in 1598. It is the oldest route of El Camino Real in use until the capital was moved to Santa Fe circa 1609.