The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway

Appearing in opaque shades of blue, bluish green, green, and yellowish green, turquoise is a mineral that has been a treasured gemstone for thousands of years. The stone’s value derives from its use in jewelry and other decorative applications. It is usually found in dry climates, which is why it is so prevalent in the American Southwest. Turquoise deposits and their associated mining activities have a long history along what’s today the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway.

Native Americans have been fashioning this gem into attractive jewelry since ancient times. Mining activities for gemstones, coal, and other deposits had mostly run their economic course by the late 20th century. Former bustling mining villages were largely abandoned and left to the vicissitudes of the inexorable desert winds. Because artisans often flock to locations that have been abandoned by others (due to bargain basement acquisition prices) several small villages along the Turquoise Trail re-emerged as trendy, off-beat tourist destinations.