Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Canjilon, New Mexico

Green Camp Canyon is an overlander and camper's paradise. The well-maintained service trail is surrounded by thick trees and lush green foliage, with no obstacles over 10 inches in size that are only found at…
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This trail begins by turning right onto FS 23 from US 84 North, just south of Route 96 turn off to the lake. You will begin climbing in elevation and the views to the west…
Learn more about FS 23/FS 137 Abiquiu to El Rito

Chama Canyon is an incredibly scenic trail that skirts the Chama River while being nestled amongst colorful cliffs. The entire area has several points of interest, including Abiquiu Reservoir, Ghost Ranch, and Echo Amphitheater, to…
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Canada del Potrero is an out-and-back trail that is well-maintained overall and suitable for most vehicles. Dispersed camping is permitted along the entire length of the trail and offers several locations with diverse settings and…
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The Chama Canyon Cliffside Loop is an optional scenic trail that diverges from Chama Canyon and follows the base of colorfully layered cliffs. Though short in length, the trail offers some amazing views. This trail…
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Truck Trl FSR-123 is a point-to-point trail connecting from the south at FSR-44 to the north at FSR-106 and is primarily softer dirt prone to rutting and mud after rain or snow melt. Rutting averages…
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This is a scenic, well-maintained US FS road connecting El Rito and Vallecitos. There are no services in either small mountain community besides the restaurant El Farolito (cash only). With a number of other US…
Learn more about FS 44 El Rito to Vallecitos

Jacques Canyon is an exceptionally well-maintained and easily passable trail for most vehicles, including some high-clearance passenger cars. While dispersed camping is not permitted along this particular trail, the thick trees that line the route…
Learn more about Jacques Canyon FSR-719

Abiquiu Dam trail starts with a short paved section at the top of the dam and works its way down some switchbacks to the base of the dam where the road turns to dirt. This…
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Vallecitos Pass is a dispersed camper's dream, even if you only have a high clearance 2WD. This easy-to-traverse trail has no major obstacles, only showing signs of minor ruts and small grades with loose rocks.…
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FS 45 is a scenic, well-maintained dirt road that connects two small mountain towns, Vallecitos and Petaca. This can be considered part three of a fun and relaxing set of trails starting in Abiquiu, and…
Learn more about FS 45 Vallecitos to Petaca

This scenic trip begins on Forest Road 8 in the town of Gallina, New Mexico. At the start, the elevation is 7,475 feet, but you will traverse up to the 9,020-foot elevation. The road begins…
Learn more about Mesa Los Indios Overlook

This trail takes you up into the Santa Fe National Forest. This is an easy trail for most with AWD or 4WD. Make sure you have gas as this is a vast mountain range where…
Learn more about Encino Mountain Trail

Lined with thick trees and large rock formations within the tree lines, the Big Rock trail loops the mountain's base with a good diversity of terrain. The trail is primarily dirt that can be extremely…
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The "road less traveled" describes this peaceful, unique high mountain trail. The peacefulness is due to the trail being sheltered from the wind and the uniqueness is due to the gigantic boulders that line your…
Learn more about Boulder Wash - FR 451

Beautiful scenic canyon drive to the Coyote Canyon Camping Area. The route is a maintained gravel/dirt road that starts in the town of Coyote, New Mexico. The route takes you south approximately 6.5 miles ending…
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Tusas Ridge runs north from FSR-222 and dead-ends shy 10 miles to the west after a few substantial elevation changes. The primarily dirt two-track trail can be extremely muddy after wet weather, with smaller loose…
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This is a relatively easy 5.7 mile route off of FR 144. The route winds through Ponderosa Pines and Aspens with some beautiful, secluded camping spots. It also leads to a choice of other trails…
Learn more about FR 449

This route is well-maintained and is an easy shortcut to get to FR 103 from Highway 96 and vice versa. There are some dispersed camping spots along the way. There are some private properties, but…
Learn more about Agua Sarca - FR 172

This rocky route travels through a dense forest along a mesa top with several unavoidable mud holes. The road is eroded and rutted in places, and fallen trees may need to be moved depending on…
Learn more about Cienega Redonda - FS 27

This is a short, straightforward trail in Carson National Forest that is well maintained, allowing any stock SUV to get from beginning to end with little stress. There are beautiful views, stands of cottonwoods amongst…
Learn more about FS 222 Las Tablas to Tres Piedras

Red Mesa FSR-578 is a point-to-point trail that connects from FS-222/CR-263 at its north entrance and leads back to SH-285 at its south entrance. This trail can be traversed from either end and is suitable…
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This route begins at the start of FR103 from New Mexico Highway 96. The route is a maintained dirt/gravel road that will take the rider south past the Resumidero Campground route and ending at the…
Learn more about FR103 Run to Rio Puerco

This route has incredible views near FR 144 of Canones Creek and in the distance of Abiquiu Valley. The elevation is over 10,000 feet at the highest point. Two local wildland firefighters named this trail…
Learn more about Burny Cole Point - FR 99

At the end of the trail, there are beautiful views of the surrounding red mesas and mountaintops. The route is an unmaintained dirt road that breaks off from FR316. During rain/snow conditions, the route is…
Learn more about Pinabetosa Water Break

This route is beautiful, easy and has some of the best off-grid camping sites in the area. The camping sites are spacious and flat. The route is fairly level with soft shoulders and ruts in…
Learn more about Capulin - FS 76

This rocky route travels along Coyote Creek on the western side and then climbs steeply through thick scrub oak to ponderosa pine meadows on the eastern side where it meets FR 100. The scrub oak…
Learn more about FR 317 Hey Bear?

This easy route connects the Coyote Canyon Camping area with FR 103 Mountain Escape. It travels through an incredible ponderosa pine forest that still shows the burn scars of the Diego Fire in 2014. The…
Learn more about FR 316 Coyote Canyon

This is an easy route around the base of the San Antonio Mountain. The ride was pretty with grand vistas, an easy trail, and some wildlife. Not recommended for passenger cars, no winter maintenance. That…
Learn more about San Antonio Mountain Loop

This short, easy route takes off from Forest Road 103. It leads to gorgeous alpine meadows and dispersed primitive camping at 9,000 feet in elevation. The camp area is a great staging area to explore…
Learn more about Resumidero Meadow Camping