Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Cotton City, New Mexico

The Chiricahua Byway is an easy forest trail that takes you across the highest "Sky Island" district in Arizona. This trail provides incredible views of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, New Mexico, and southern Arizona. There are ample camping spots all along this route from paid sites with toilets to pr...
Learn more about Chiricahua Byway

There is a Forest Service gate at the beginning of the trail; it is not locked, just chained. Once you undo the chain, you'll drive in and close the gate behind you. Once on public land, the trail is extremely narrow. If you're worried about pinstripes, this trail is not for you. After the first mil...
Learn more about Peterson Canyon

County Line Road is a point-to-point route running between Ss1050 to the east and SS1178. The main section is a wide gravel road that is easy for any vehicle, though it may become muddy in wet weather—use caution. The trail is lined with desert creosote and a berm and passes Haekel Road. Beyond this...
Learn more about County Line Road

Trail Ss1134 starts at a gate off County Line Road. It is now an out-and-back trail. Keep the gate closed. The trail is gravel and sand, and lined with desert creosote. Driving north, you have a Stunning view of Javelina Peak. Several washouts have big ruts. Watch your speed. The ground is hard grav...
Learn more about Ss1134

This 7.3 mile trail begins at FS 861 (Knight Canyon Road) and US 90. The trail begins on a 2-track, full size sandy dirt road that climbs gently up to the first gate. You'll continue along Knight Canyon as it winds through a wide sandy wash. Along the way, you will pass a windmill and an incredibly ...
Learn more about Knight Canyon Road to Mill Canyon Road

Trail Ss1134d is an emergency evacuation route for the mining operation now in place at the end of this trail. Traveling to the north, it is a wide track road that offers a beautiful view of Javelina Peak. At the end of the road, you will come to the other side of Ss1134; however, all of these trail...
Learn more about Ss1134d

Rosewood Road is a State Trust route that cuts across the desert, connecting Ss1181 to Ss1180. The trail features desert creosote, yucca trees, and sandy terrain. 4WD with high clearance is recommended. Running east to west, it offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. There are no technical...
Learn more about Rosewood Road

SS1181 is a wide, well-maintained gravel road that provides access to the Hot Well Dunes from the south. The route serves dual purposes, accommodating both weekend tourist traffic and agricultural vehicles, which contributes to its occasional wash boarding and rough surface in spots. Drivers should ...
Learn more about SS1181

Trail Ss1180 branches off Ss1181 and heads south across open desert terrain. Shortly after beginning, you’ll climb a small hill and enter a tight section of trees where pinstripes are almost guaranteed. Fortunately, this narrow stretch is short, and the trail widens again soon after. This is a very ...
Learn more about Ss1180

The trail begins at the tidy and well-kept Walnut Grove Campground and starts out on a well-maintained path. Grasslands stretch out to the left and across the valley, gradually giving way to pine forests as you leave the mesquite lowlands behind. The route winds through the hills and becomes moderat...
Learn more about Rucker Canyon

FS 836 leads to Jacks Peak which is the highest point in the area at 7966 feet elevation. Being the highest point in the area, Jacks Peak has numerous communication towers. This road is rough, rocky, and seems longer than it is as you bounce along. Be aware of the numerous worker vehicles of those t...
Learn more about FS 836 Jacks Peak Road

This is an easy, sandy route through gorgeous terrain. The shoulders of the road are deep sand and should be avoided. The rocks, Alligator Juniper, Pinon Trees, Cholla Cactus and Palm Yuccas create a spectacular view of converging life zones. In Merriam's Life Zones, this area has the Lower Sonoran,...
Learn more about Upper Gold Gulch

This is a back road into Fort Bowie. It has a few overlook locations of the Fort and travels in from Highway 186. This is a historic fort that stood for years during a conflict between the US Government and the Apache tribe. To get to the fort is a short hike but worth it.
Learn more about Fort Bowie Trail

The road is graded and well-maintained as it approaches Morse Canyon, where it begins to narrow. Charming cottages dot the route, and there are numerous dispersed campsites along a stream. The road becomes rocky and uneven in places, but there's no off-camber driving. The trail winds through pine ne...
Learn more about Turkey Creek

This is an easy road that climbs up from the juniper woodlands to ponderosa forest. It offers Continental Divide Trail access--in fact, the CDT is on the road for a while. There are several campsites at the start of the road. A corral at the end of the road looks like it may still be in use. Look ou...
Learn more about FS 828

Tex Canyon Road begins as a well-maintained route before entering forested foothills at the base of the mountains. Several spurs and side trails offer opportunities for exploration. As the road climbs, it becomes moderately rocky but remains navigable. Upon exiting Coronado National Forest, the road...
Learn more about Tex Canyon Road

Trail Ss1104 begins off Ss1106 and runs point-to-point, eventually reconnecting near Hot Springs Road. This route crosses sections of sand dunes and multiple washes, offering expansive views of Javelina Peak and the dramatic, wind-eroded dune walls. Expect frequent wash crossings and several washout...
Learn more about Ss1104

This short and rough trail leads to the Silver Dollar Mine and townsite. It is a great picnic spot and plan time to poke around the townsite foundations. The mine head frame is visible to the west from Tyrone Thompson Canyon Road. The mine looks closer than it is. The townsite is straight ahead as y...
Learn more about FS 4089 T Silver Dollar Mine

Tex Canyon Road begins as a well-maintained route before entering forested foothills at the base of the mountains. Several spurs and side trails offer opportunities for exploration. As the road climbs, it becomes moderately rocky but remains navigable. Upon exiting Coronado National Forest, the road...
Learn more about Tex Canyon Road

This is a true road to nowhere. As you follow this road out of Bowie to get back to Hot Well Area, the trail almost disappears at times, opening up again with a good track. There are many tracks that look fairly fresh.
Learn more about Bowie to Nowhere

The Chiricahua Byway is an easy forest trail that takes you across the highest "Sky Island" district in Arizona. This trail provides incredible views of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, New Mexico, and southern Arizona. There are ample camping spots all along this route from paid sites with toilets to pr...
Learn more about Chiricahua Byway

There is a Forest Service gate at the beginning of the trail; it is not locked, just chained. Once you undo the chain, you'll drive in and close the gate behind you. Once on public land, the trail is extremely narrow. If you're worried about pinstripes, this trail is not for you. After the first mil...
Learn more about Peterson Canyon

County Line Road is a point-to-point route running between Ss1050 to the east and SS1178. The main section is a wide gravel road that is easy for any vehicle, though it may become muddy in wet weather—use caution. The trail is lined with desert creosote and a berm and passes Haekel Road. Beyond this...
Learn more about County Line Road

Trail Ss1134 starts at a gate off County Line Road. It is now an out-and-back trail. Keep the gate closed. The trail is gravel and sand, and lined with desert creosote. Driving north, you have a Stunning view of Javelina Peak. Several washouts have big ruts. Watch your speed. The ground is hard grav...
Learn more about Ss1134

The Chiricahua Byway is an easy forest trail that takes you across the highest "Sky Island" district in Arizona. This trail provides incredible views of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, New Mexico, and southern Arizona. There are ample camping spots all along this route from paid sites with toilets to pr...
Learn more about Chiricahua Byway

There is a Forest Service gate at the beginning of the trail; it is not locked, just chained. Once you undo the chain, you'll drive in and close the gate behind you. Once on public land, the trail is extremely narrow. If you're worried about pinstripes, this trail is not for you. After the first mil...
Learn more about Peterson Canyon

County Line Road is a point-to-point route running between Ss1050 to the east and SS1178. The main section is a wide gravel road that is easy for any vehicle, though it may become muddy in wet weather—use caution. The trail is lined with desert creosote and a berm and passes Haekel Road. Beyond this...
Learn more about County Line Road

Trail Ss1134 starts at a gate off County Line Road. It is now an out-and-back trail. Keep the gate closed. The trail is gravel and sand, and lined with desert creosote. Driving north, you have a Stunning view of Javelina Peak. Several washouts have big ruts. Watch your speed. The ground is hard grav...
Learn more about Ss1134