Thousands of Borderland residents are expected to stream up Mount Cristo Rey on Saturday for the annual pilgrimage, a tradition that sends families and worshippers climbing toward the 29‑foot Christ statue that crowns the Sunland Park ridge. Gates open at 7 a.m., and by midmorning the steep, winding trail is typically packed with walkers treating the ascent as a seasonal ritual of prayer, reflection, and community that unites El Paso, Las Cruces, and Juárez.
According to KVIA, volunteers and local law enforcement will be posted along the route to help manage traffic and assist pilgrims on the way up. The station notes that the pilgrimage typically lands near Thanksgiving and that gates will open at 7 a.m. to kick off the procession. Organizers are warning attendees to expect tight parking conditions and possible delays getting into the trailhead area.
The Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee is advising pilgrims to show up prepared: sturdy shoes, layered clothing, and plenty of water are all on the list. The committee describes the walk as roughly a five‑mile round trip and directs groups to gather at the large parking lot at the trailhead off McNutt Road (NM‑273). In recent years, the committee notes, the pilgrimage date has been shifted to line up with the Feast of Christ the King and now generally falls close to Thanksgiving…