The Most Dangerous Street Tour in America

On February 18, 1878 John H. Tunstall was murdered south of Lincoln

-The Tunstall Murder Site-

by Brandon Dickson

Surprisingly, it is not that difficult to get to the location of John Tunstall’s murder. An easy turn off of US 70 near Glencoe, New Mexico will get you there. From US 70 turn South onto Glencoe Loop. Then turn (South) onto Coe Canyon Road. Continue down the road until you come to an intersection which is Tunstall Canyon Road. (There is an old rock house on the right as you make this turn). The road starts as gravel and quickly turns more rocky as the road starts to climb uphill.

Tunstall Canyon Road becomes Forest Road 443. Continue south on this road for just over 4 miles. (Do Not Take Any Trails That Vere To The Left, stay to the Right). A 4 Wheel Drive vehicle is not required to travel this road. However I would recommend no low clearance vehicles. The road has some deep ruts and occasionally large rocks along the way. This stretch of the road is winding, rocky and may have a cow or two in the middle of it. Along the way you will pass markers Forest Road 443A and a little further along the way a marker Forest Road 443B.

Continue ahead through the cattle guard and down the road which by this point in the journey has become smooth gravel and easy to drive. You will pass a marker for Forest RD 443C.

As the road goes back up the hill, pay attention. The marker can be missed easily.

Stop at Marker 9019D. It marks the trail down to the murder site. Go North down the trail about 300 yards. This trail is usable by walking on foot or on horseback. It is very rocky for the first 150 yards, be aware. Along this trail there are tree stumps with faded red arrows helping to point the way, these are difficult to see and very weathered.

Simply follow the trail, you are headed the right way. The path will begin to wind left down the hill. As the road starts to level, there is a well worn trail that cuts off to the West. Take this trail about 80 yards into the trees. Tunstall’s marker is visible from the main trail, it will be on your left in the trees as you walk downhill along the road.

The Tunstall murder site is very quiet. It is a lonely place. Indeed if one is there in the early evening it is possible to see wild turkeys, relatives of the same ones that Tunstall’s men chased after. For many adventurous historians, it is a must see. To feel the ground and see the terrain and understand the situation as it was then at that very place, that is an adventure worth taking.

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