TRAIL SEGMENT ON THIS PAGE: 
Tusas Springs Route

>>Socorro-History.org/CAMINOREAL/Paraje

The Camino Real Mapping Project
on these web pages

is the exclusive work of the 
 
 

Website courtesy of the Socorro County Historical Society (SCHS), P.O. Box 921, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 [SCHS home page]

The TUSAS SPRINGS ROUTE of El Camino Real trail has been a special mapping project by the Socorro Desert Ratts and for the Armendaris Ranch (well aware of its existence).  It is a well defined route from the main trail – a diversion to the reliable and ample water at Tusas Springs.  Much of this diversionary trail is visible, nearly continuous to Paraje Fra Cristobal, and well worn in places to suggest frequent use.  The bypass to Tusas Springs is not well documented nor is it included with the official National Historic Trails maps of El Camino Real.  Detailed maps and photographs are included herein to document the Tusas Springs route of the trail. 

Tusas Springs has long been a reliable and ample source of water in the northern portion of the Jornada del Muerto - though scarcely documented.  Artifacts at the site, including Piro Indian pottery shards and Apache points, indicate its long term awareness and use. The ranch has found Spanish artifacts and long aware of its affinity to El Camino Real trail.

 

The trail remains clearly visible departing the springs for Paraje Fra Cristobal, and two other threads leading to a nearby lake for watering and grazing caravan livestock. The condition of the trail in places suggests the diversion to the water at Tusas Springs was often used, well traveled, and a likely paraje. 

 

 

Distances
14 mi. Tusas Springs to Paraje*

From Laguna del Muerto
26 mi. to Paraje* via main trail
29 mi. to Paraje* via Tusas Springs

 

* Paraje Fra Cristobal 

More photos here ...

Click photos to enlarge 

Tusas Springs in 2006 showing the old hacienda at the springs. Affinity unknown but believed built mid–1800s and extant during the later days of the trail's use.  Was it strictly a hacienda/ranch house, or did it serve as a way stop for travelers along the trail? 
The adobe hacienda building was razed by the ranch in 2010.

The name. Tusa or tuza is an archaic Spanish word for gopher or rodent, still commonly used in Cuba and Latin America. Indeed, there are gopher or ground hog mounds around the springs.

 

The springs is also shown as

Tucson Springs on some maps.

 

 

NOTE: The trail in this area is part of the Armendaris Ranch for which no public

access is allowed without ranch permission. Trespassers are prosecuted.