Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Boles Acres, New Mexico

This trail is easily traversed in all types of vehicles, but low-clearance vehicles may have a hard time due to loose rocks, dirt ruts and larger rocks that protrude from the surface. The width of the trail is large enough for two vehicles to pass with ease, and can support a third vehicle in width ...
Learn more about Westside Road - Mule Peak to Joplin Ridge

Burleson Ridge is an inviting three-mile out-and-back spur trail in the Lincoln National Forest that offers stunning high-altitude views and a gateway to rugged backcountry exploration for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, OHVs, and SxSs. Branching off the popular Westside Road, this trail c...
Learn more about Burleson Ridge

Dunes Drive is an exciting and easy drive through White Sands National Park to experience the ancient gypsum dune field. The "sand" is hard-packed gypsum crystals and can easily be driven in a low clearance 2wd. Many people bring waxed sleds for sliding down the soft dunes throughout the park. Cover...
Learn more about Dunes Drive, White Sands NP

Agua Chiquita is an overall very well-maintained road that will be easily accessible by most vehicles including 2wd with decent clearance. Turning off from NM6563 there is a short section of pavement where the trail begins. This changes to a combination of gravel and dirt and becomes a more dirt and...
Learn more about Agua Chiquita

Water Canyon is found just off the Upper Rio Penasco Road near Marcia, NM south of Cloudcroft east of NM6563. The trail is generally two vehicles wide with small sections being slightly narrow due to minor washouts. This canyon road sits elevated just above a large washout that feeds the Rio Penasco...
Learn more about Water Canyon

The Old Sunspot Highway ATV trail is a short and easy connecting route from Agua Chiquita Road to the Water Canyon 5009 road. The trail is essentially an old road that is now designated only for ATVs and dirt bikes. It is wide, very gradual, covered in a light layer of loose rock and gravel, with a ...
Learn more about Old Sunspot Highway - FS 5009

Atkinson Canyon can be found just south of Cloudcroft, NM off NM6563. The trail surface is a combination of dirt and rocks with no obstacles larger than 8" and very minor rutting in some low-lying areas. The trail will be easily passable by most vehicles including some 2WDs during the dry months, bu...
Learn more about Atkinson Canyon

The south end of Trail 5007A starts at a couple of fence posts and a trail sign along Upper Rio Penasco Road, across from a small parking area. The trail is rutted and grassy, with a layer of scattered loose rocks packed down into the dirt, and roots stretching across the trail. It immediately start...
Learn more about Schofield Canyon Trail - FS 5007A

Karr Canyon is a scenic Forest Service road located within the Lincoln National Forest. The route begins with a gradual descent into a beautiful section of the forest, offering peaceful mountain scenery along the way. It also provides access to several hiking opportunities and features a few pull-of...
Learn more about Karr Canyon

Alamo Canyon is a scenic Forest Service road located within the Lincoln National Forest. This quiet route travels through the forest on a narrow dirt road, offering a peaceful drive with several dispersed camping opportunities along the way. Its secluded setting makes it a great choice for those loo...
Learn more about Alamo Canyon

The east end of FS 5007C starts at an intersection with FS 5006, and it is immediately covered in loose softball-sized rocks that ping you around and make for a slower ride. The trail descends steeply with one big hairpin turn. It intersects with FS 5007 and continues on a rutted two-track, then cl...
Learn more about Schofield/Benson - FS 5007C

Benson Ridge can be found just off Highway 6563 approximately 8 miles south of Cloudcroft. The trail begins on a well-maintained surface and gradually changes to a more rocky and dirt surface. There are no obstacles larger than 10" along the route and most 4x4 and AWD vehicles will easily complete t...
Learn more about Benson Ridge

Upper Rio Penasco is a scenic Forest Service road located within the Lincoln National Forest. This easy gravel road travels through a beautiful mountain valley, offering gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape along the way. The route also provides access to a scenic waterfall hiking trail, maki...
Learn more about Upper Rio Penasco

Benson Ridge South is a scenic Forest Service road located within the Lincoln National Forest. This narrow backcountry route winds through the forest before ending at the Shortcut Trailhead, which provides access to a motorcycle trail that is not open to full-size vehicles. The peaceful setting and ...
Learn more about Benson Ridge South

Karr Main is a decently maintained trail that is surrounded by thick forest trees, great dispersed camping sites, and a couple of small areas that give a glimpse overlooking the Alamogordo and White Sands Area. While the rock and dirt surface is in good condition with no obstacles larger than 10", t...
Learn more about Karr Main

This is the Lincoln National Forest Road 623 from the Sunspot highway to the Chippaway Trailhead. It is rough in places, with plenty of sharp rocks, and there is a large water crossing that can be bypassed through a dispersed camping area. The road is fairly level, and wide enough in most places for...
Learn more about FR623

The Benson Canyon Spur is a short connector trail between 5005 and 5006. It is a mild connector route, with a gradual slope, but a consistent layer of small, loose rocks. It goes along a shelf cut into the hillside through a forested corridor of pines and fir trees, with gentle curves. The trail has...
Learn more about Benson Canyon Spur - FS 5005A

Hubbell Canyon Trail is a 4.8-mile-long trail through the Lincoln National Forest. The north end starts off ATV Trail 9278, along a fence line in a pasture where the trail was muddy and rutted, and still had some snow in early spring. There are roots stretched across the trail, which is slightly off...
Learn more about Hubbell Canyon- FS 9277

Wayne Canyon is a northbound spur off Benson Ridge that provides great additional camping spots in the area. The trail is primarily single-vehicle wide with some room to pass if needed. The trail appears to be well maintained and with no large obstacles or standing water areas, most vehicles should ...
Learn more about Wayne Canyon

This ATV trail is an easier option within the trail system in the Lincoln National Forest. It is mostly gradual for the entire 3-mile route, meandering through a pine forest and grassy, wide-open meadows. The trail connects Wills Canyon on the north end to Agua Chiquita Road on the south end. It’s m...
Learn more about Upper Wills Canyon - FS 9278

This trail is easily traversed in all types of vehicles, but low-clearance vehicles may have a hard time due to loose rocks, dirt ruts and larger rocks that protrude from the surface. The width of the trail is large enough for two vehicles to pass with ease, and can support a third vehicle in width ...
Learn more about Westside Road - Mule Peak to Joplin Ridge

Burleson Ridge is an inviting three-mile out-and-back spur trail in the Lincoln National Forest that offers stunning high-altitude views and a gateway to rugged backcountry exploration for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, OHVs, and SxSs. Branching off the popular Westside Road, this trail c...
Learn more about Burleson Ridge

Agua Chiquita is an overall very well-maintained road that will be easily accessible by most vehicles including 2wd with decent clearance. Turning off from NM6563 there is a short section of pavement where the trail begins. This changes to a combination of gravel and dirt and becomes a more dirt and...
Learn more about Agua Chiquita

Water Canyon is found just off the Upper Rio Penasco Road near Marcia, NM south of Cloudcroft east of NM6563. The trail is generally two vehicles wide with small sections being slightly narrow due to minor washouts. This canyon road sits elevated just above a large washout that feeds the Rio Penasco...
Learn more about Water Canyon

This trail is easily traversed in all types of vehicles, but low-clearance vehicles may have a hard time due to loose rocks, dirt ruts and larger rocks that protrude from the surface. The width of the trail is large enough for two vehicles to pass with ease, and can support a third vehicle in width ...
Learn more about Westside Road - Mule Peak to Joplin Ridge

Agua Chiquita is an overall very well-maintained road that will be easily accessible by most vehicles including 2wd with decent clearance. Turning off from NM6563 there is a short section of pavement where the trail begins. This changes to a combination of gravel and dirt and becomes a more dirt and...
Learn more about Agua Chiquita

Water Canyon is found just off the Upper Rio Penasco Road near Marcia, NM south of Cloudcroft east of NM6563. The trail is generally two vehicles wide with small sections being slightly narrow due to minor washouts. This canyon road sits elevated just above a large washout that feeds the Rio Penasco...
Learn more about Water Canyon

Atkinson Canyon can be found just south of Cloudcroft, NM off NM6563. The trail surface is a combination of dirt and rocks with no obstacles larger than 8" and very minor rutting in some low-lying areas. The trail will be easily passable by most vehicles including some 2WDs during the dry months, bu...
Learn more about Atkinson Canyon