El Paso Mission Trail

I thoroughly enjoyed the El Paso Mission trail and making each stop along the route. The best stop by far is San Elizario. I suggest stopping here first and starting at 10:00am when the museum and church open. Not only is this the most scenic and peaceful stop, it offers the most interactive experience of all the nearby missions. Oscar was working the museum on the morning that we stopped and he treated us to a great walking tour and provided local history. He is an oral historian and does a great job of informing visitors of area history as well as culture. Stop in and ask for him. He walked us around the museum and down the nearby streets to give us a tour of the prison and local establishments. I'd say you should plan on being at San Elizario for 1-2 hours to enjoy everything that the area has to offer. Once you've toured, you'll want to hit the local coffee shop known as Cafe Arte di Admore. Amazing coffee, sandwiches, and pastries. The owner even makes all the art on display. You should definitely check out my review for more info on that. Socorro and Ysleta are the other two missions and certainly worth seeing. However, they are in much more bustling areas and will not require the same amount of time. I'd say you can safely plan on 15 minutes at each of these thus making the entire experience about a half day commitment. Please have fun and enjoy!

I agree with the first reviewer that this Mission Trail is essential for those who want to learn more about the history of El Paso and the Borderland. I managed to stop at each mission/chapel on my drive back to Arizona to read the plaques, walk around the plazas, and take in some spirituality. Even on an abbreviated schedule, this took me two hours. Unlike the missions of San Antonio, these three missions are best done by car, due to the heavy traffic along the border and the narrow road of travel. All three are well-maintained, but opening hours may vary despite them being posted. All three are within seven miles and the road is well-marked.It's journey is best done from the south, starting with the Elizario chapel and then continuing to Socorro and then Ysleta. The Elizario complex is the most quiet one, away from main traffic or large buildings. A gate prevents vehicular traffic in front of the chapel. A lot of blackbirds like to gather in the trees in the plaza, so watch for bird bombs!The Socorro mission has a large parking area. Getting in and out of this one is easy, but again, watch out for traffic when getting back on the road. There is a somber memorial to the Gutierrez family in the back of the mission. Watch out for two very vicious chihuahuas across the dirt path, too. They like to annoy passers-by.The Ysleta mission is in the most congested area of the three. It's on the Tigua Reservation and a major road is between the parking lot and mission. It's loud and active. The noise can be disturbing. This one is also surveilled by camera and a guard shack.Take the time to read the historical signs, enter the churches and take in some self-reflection when walking through these three complexes. The Ysleta mission is the oldest of the three, yet also one of the busiests.

We really enjoyed touring this Mission Trail in El Paso as a Family during our Christmas vacation. We started at the most outer mission at Presidio Chapel of San Elizario and worked our way into the city. San Elizario Historic District is designated as a State Cultural District through the Texas Commission on the Arts. There are 17 historical sites in this district alone, so besides this mission chapel there are additional points of historical interest in this area. The second stop of the Mission Trail is Socorro Mission La Prisma. The hidden gem of this location is the copy of Pieta by Michaelangelo (photo). It's not in the mission chapel, but it's housed in the La Prisma Church building next door. You have to ask the nice ladies in the gift shop if you want to see it since the church building is usually locked.The third and the final stop is the Ysleta Mission (Old Mission Church) located off South Zaragosa. Actually, it's next to the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center. Parking situation maybe a little tricky---when we visited, there was a sign at the parking lot entrance saying the parking lot was closed. The inside of the Mission is quite nice including a small but very nice gift shop. In fact you can access the sanctuary from the gift shop as well as the front door. You will enjoy this trail. I'd say it's a must visit for getting to know the history of El Paso.

On my way to Carlsbad Cavern, I decided to see this historical place and try to learn a little bit about the history of south Texas. On google, it says opens from 9am to 2pm. I got there at 1245pm. The older lady walked out and locked the doors. I'm like are you open? She said we close at 1pm. Wtf, it was only 1245? I didn't get to go inside. I asked it's not 1pm yet. Doesn't matter, slacking off and stealing time are her priorities. It was my first time in Texas and probably also my last.