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Tijeras Canyon, New Mexico

Nature & parks
In Tijeras, New Mexico
On Route 66

Tijeras Canyon is the pass that carries travellers through the mountains on the east side of Albuquerque, NM. It splits the Sandia Mountains from the lower Manzanita hills to the south, and both historic Route 66 and Interstate 40 run through it. For westbound drivers it is the doorway into Albuquerque; for eastbound drivers it is the climb out of the Rio Grande Valley.

What is Tijeras Canyon?

A canyon, sometimes called Tijeras Pass, that cuts through the Sandia–Manzano Mountains. The canyon floor rises from about 5,600 to 7,000 feet, and the pass at its head sits a little higher, around 7,040 feet. Water drains west into a wide dry wash, the Tijeras Arroyo, which eventually reaches the Rio Grande.

History of Tijeras Canyon

Route 66 did not always come this way. The first alignment ran through Santa Fe and entered the city from the north. The highway was moved into Tijeras Canyon in 1937, a change linked to Governor Arthur Hannett, who, as the story is told, wanted to get back at Santa Fe politicians he blamed for his failed re-election bid. Back in 1901, a line called the Albuquerque Eastern Railway had been planned through the canyon as well.

Visiting Tijeras Canyon: tips

There is nothing to buy a ticket for here; the canyon is the drive itself. Give yourself time to take in the rock walls and the change in elevation. The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is about 8.4 miles away, and La Puerta Lodge, a retro roadside motel, about 8.7 miles.

Practical info

On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Tijeras Canyon

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Diner & restaurant
Frontier Restaurant
Albuquerque, NM · 13.1 mi from Tijeras Canyon
A big New Mexican restaurant near UNM on Central Avenue, hung with portraits of John Wayne.