Acting as the southern gateway to the famous Turquoise Trail, Tijeras is a prosperous village falling in Bernalillo County located in the central part of the state of New Mexico. A number of mountain communities are to be found along the Turquoise Trail and many vacationers and mountain enthusiasts from the city of Albuquerque normally start their journey from the village of Tijeras New Mexico.

Although, according to the 2010 census, the population of the village was a paltry 541, Tijeras is still recognized as part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area. Tijeras (Spanish for ‘scissors’) lies at the point where two canyons meet (why the name)—Cedro Canyon which leads south toward the Salt Mission Trail located in Manzano Mountains and Tijeras Canyon that leads westward toward the city of Albuquerque. The village also falls along the NM State Road 14 that heads north from Tijeras toward Sandia Crest, Cedar Crest, Madrid and Santa Fe.

Although the village has a tiny population, according to data obtained from the most recent census of 2010 the living standards were quite high in this charming and somewhat quaint community of Tijeras. The median household income of the village ($49,441) was higher than that of the state of New Mexico as a whole which is estimated at $43,028. Even more telling is the fact that the median price of a housing unit at Tijeras was $229,479 which is way higher than the average price of a private home, condo, or apartment in the state ($160,900). This gives us a fair idea of the prosperous nature of the community of Tijeras.

The main sites for outdoor activities at Tijeras include The Cibola National Forest, The Hidden Valley Resort and the RV Camping Resort. The last offers 104 camping sites as well as other facilities that include a rec building, club house and a heated pool. You may also pay a visit to the Tijeras Pueblo Archeological Site where the many exhibits on display (dating as far back to 14th century and unearthed thanks to archaeological expeditions carried out in the area) as well as video guides and educational infographics will give you an idea of the centuries-old history of the area.