It's All Trew: Camino Real known as scenic byway The old road "Camino Real" or Royal Road may not be the oldest road in America but was completed in 1598, a long time ago. It begins at the San Juan Pueblo in northern New Mexico, goes 400 miles south to El Paso then on another 1,200 miles to Mexico City. The mileage varies as many segments had alternate routes depending on the water holes and warring Indian tribes living along the way. Every trip seemed to have its unique problems. The Spanish government designated many trails as Camino Reals throughout early Texas and the Southwest but sooner or later each one intersected the old road at some point. During the early boom days of discovery when many silver, lead and gold mines were worked by the Spanish, the old road was called The Silver Road as pack trains and wagon trains carried the treasure to Mexico City to be assessed by the king's officials. The founder of New Mexico's colonies, Juan de Onate, is given credit for blazing the final northern segment from El Paso to San Juan Pueblo. The earlier segment in Mexico began with the huge silver discovery at Zacatecus....