Head to Edgewood for small-town charm, Route 66 history, outdoor adventures—and a black bear named Maggie.
By Julian Dossett
When Route 66 rerouted through Edgewood in 1937, the Mother Road brought more than transcontinental motorists to the rural mountain town east of Albuquerque. “What it became for the community, back in the day, was a farm-to-market road,” says Edgewood community liaison Linda Burke. The new route allowed East Mountain farmers and ranchers to reach Albuquerque with their agricultural bounty. In the years that followed, Edgewood grew around the storied highway but never lost its connection to the land and small-town charms. Just 20 miles east of Albuquerque, the town of just over 6,000 residents offers a unique experience where the mountains, plains, and historic Route 66 meet.
Glimpses of its Mother Road past can still be found along the way, including the former Midway Trading Post, built in the mid-1940s, that once served as a curio shop, gas station, cafe, and rest stop. “It really shows that old history of Route 66,” Burke says, “of what it was like to be able to make that stop in what probably felt like the middle of nowhere.”
Once a humble town of bean farmers and cattle ranchers, and locals who made those traversing the route feel right at home, Edgewood continues this tradition by offering travelers a friendly, easy stop on the way to their destination. Though now, its modern-day activities, charm, and access to outdoor adventure make the town a destination in its own right. Edgewood’s welcoming sensibilities are alive and well at the Route 66 RV Park, where visitors will find pull-through sites, tent camping, a dog park, a playground, and two glamping cabins.
It’s a perfect jumping-off point to explore Edgewood’s hundreds of acres of parkland well-suited for outdoor excursions. Hike, bike, or ride horseback along the five-kilometer trail that runs through ECHO Ridge Park, a 248-acre expanse of high-desert terrain with distant views of the Sandía Mountains to the west and the Santa Fe and Pecos Mountains to the north. “It’s pretty much untouched,” says town grants coordinator Roger Holden.
Seeking an up-close experience with nature’s creatures? Visit Wildlife West Nature Park, a 122-acre sanctuary for native New Mexican wildlife such as coyotes, deer, elk, foxes, hawks, owls, and a black bear named Maggie. “It’s a great place for people who are coming to New Mexico for the first time,” Burke says.
Much more than a zoo, the park creates a special place for animals that can’t be released back into the wild to live in habitats built just for them. These unique habitats and enclosures also afford visitors the chance to see many wild species up close. Families will love the kids’ imagination trail, where children can run, jump, and play in an interactive environment. Make sure to check out the park calendar for regular happenings, like dinners and live performances.
Wildlife West also hosts some of Edgewood’s most popular events and festivals. In May, the free Kite Festival soars on the front field with kites in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The Wild West Frontier Festival in June immerses visitors in Jamestown, a living Old West town complete with characters from the time period, performance stages, and activities such as gold mining, axe throwing, horseback riding, and a petting zoo.
The Pirate Viking Summer Festival in August delivers a bounty of entertainment across five stages, ranging from fire-spinners and storytellers to reptile exhibits and live music. The New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival, which runs two weekends in March and April, attracts visitors with jousting and sword fighting, as well as tons of family games, activities, and festive fare.
Even when there’s not an event in town, Edgewood acts as a center of culture and commerce. Nestled inside a charming old warehouse, Church Street Market features 20 tiny boutiques along a Main Street–style interior walkway. Shoppers can browse the Harry Potter Shop, for everything a budding witch or wizard needs; Wooly & Wyrd, for yarns and woven creations; and Sign of the Dragon Farms, for locally grown perennials and vegetable plants. “People come from all over to go shopping there,” Burke says, “especially when they’re looking for something that’s unique and handcrafted.”
Edgewood’s dining scene fits that bill as well. Try local favorite Chili Hills and saddle up to the family-owned restaurant’s Duke Burger, which honors John Wayne. “It’s enormous,” Burke says. “They serve it with a big steak knife through it to hold it together.”
All Roads Cafe, another community staple, serves up amazing sandwiches, pastas, and salads. (Don’t miss the Hawaiian Ham.)
The town has been cooking up something special for the Route 66 centennial in 2026, with something planned almost every month of the year, including a carnival, a rodeo series, a July 4th extravaganza, and the Route 66 Run, Rally & Rock, a big event featuring a 5K run and car rallies. Make sure to check the town calendar for all the family festivities that are well worth the trip.
