Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Deer Canyon, New Mexico

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

This is an easy route to the beautiful, well-shaded, and peaceful Red Canyon Campground. The campground is at 7,600 feet in elevation. It can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It is easy access to the Manzano Wilderness on the Red and Spruce Canyon trails on foot or horseback. The campground has corr...
Learn more about Red Canyon Campground

Clarion Course is one of the more clear-cut trails in the area and shows more signs of use than many of the others. The trail surface is a combination of dirt, sand, and rocks but does not have any obstacles larger than 10 inches. There are sections with minor rutting and some off-camber turns, howe...
Learn more about Clarion Course

Sandwash is a trail that is exactly as named, beginning as a dirt hard-pack trail that quickly changes to a sandy wash track. As the trail begins to descend, it narrows to single-vehicle-width and changes from dirt to soft sand with one small rock garden hidden in the sand. The trail is easily trave...
Learn more about Sandwash

Wandering Wake is a trail that shows minimal signs of use and is very primitive with no signs of maintenance being performed. The surface changes frequently from dirt to sand with some smaller rocky sections scattered through the length of the trail. While there are no large obstacles along the trai...
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This trail ascends a mountain surrounded by the desert to the South-East of Mountainair. When approaching the peak, it will be visible long before you start the trail when approaching from the west. The first part of the trail is driving on light gravel roads before you enter the National Forest. Th...
Learn more about Glorieta Peak

Windmill Way has a decent variety of terrain along its route. Composed of a combination of soft sand, dirt, and rocks, the trail winds its way to the southwest giving views of the surrounding mountains and a plateau to the north full of wind turbines. There are no obstacles larger than 10 inches alo...
Learn more about Windmill Way

This route leads to the premier area to see the Big Tooth Maple in the Manzano Mountains. It is the largest stand of maples in New Mexico. The road is easy but narrow in spots. Camping is available from April through November for tents and tent trailers. There is also a parking area for some short h...
Learn more about Fourth of July Campground

Red cloud trail works its way across the top of the peaks in Gallinas before descending into a forested area. With many dispersed camping opportunities, this is a great area for some more secluded outdoor activities. Multiple excellent views of the surrounding desert are available, especially while ...
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This route is officially WSMR P Route 5 but most of the signs are gone. It is a smooth sailing, picturesque route that travels along ridges and drops into arroyos and drainages. The vegetation is the upper Chihuahua Desert biome. The route is sandy in spots with erosion ruts along the sides. There a...
Learn more about Smooth Sailing

This is a wide-open sky drive that starts on the northwest side of the Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge. It winds around the striking Ladron (Thieves) Mountain. There are a few scattered ranches but most of the area is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management that borders the Wildlife Refuge. The Lad...
Learn more about Riley CR 12

This relatively flat, sandy route travels on the east side of the Veranito Wilderness Study Area and the south side of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. There are some erosion issues, especially toward the end of the route. It dead ends at a geological gap curiously named Puertecito of Bowling...
Learn more about Puertecito of Bowling Green

Coyote Exit begins just off the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, works its way around the Cerillos de Coyote plateaus, and culminates into a panorama overlook of the surrounding mountain ranges. This includes the Sierra de la Campana, Fra Cristobal, Chupadera, San Mateo, Magdalena, and Sierra Ladrones M...
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East Loop is a part of the Gordy’s Johnson Trail Network System. This is a simple trail, crossing over a canyon to easily get to another portion of the trail system. Expect loose rock and some gradual hills. There are a few eroded spots that have wide enough trails that you will be able to bypass th...
Learn more about East Loop

A part of the Gordy’s Johnson Trail Network System, this is a scenic trail with some rutted sections, loose rock, and small rock-climbing obstacles. The route includes off-camber areas, dirt sections, and some steep climbs. A gate at the end of the trail requires closure after passing through. This ...
Learn more about Upper Flagstone Road

This is a spur trail off Riley CR 12. It winds around some small hills and ends at a picturesque windmill, watering tank, and building ruins. The majestic Ladron mountains create the backdrop. Locals target shoot in this area so listen for shooting before venturing onto this trail.
Learn more about Windmill

JH0099 is a part of the Gordy's Trail system. It starts as an easy, mostly Level 2 trail with some unmaintained sections. It becomes steeper and more challenging with ruts, off-camber terrain, and climbs and descents over the mountains. One deep sand climb may require using an alternate route, which...
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A wide dirt track through the Gallinas district of Cibola National Forest. This route skirts the base of the Gallinas peak and is primarily used as a quick through road from the south side to the north side of the area. There are minimal washouts or other obstacles on this road, and it could easily ...
Learn more about Cougar Mountain Road

Lower Arroyo de Los Pinos is an essential trail often used to access the larger trail system in the area. It branches directly off Quebradas Backcountry Byway Road and is located just shortly after the major staging area. This trail is relatively easy but does begin with a somewhat steep descent int...
Learn more about Lower Arroyo de Los Pinos

A part of the Gordy’s Johnson Trail Network System, this is known as South Boundary Road - JH0017 or Quebradas Hogback Trail. A scenic drive featuring a mix of smooth dirt, loose dirt sections, and occasional larger rocks on climbs. Dispersed camping is allowed in the area, but there are no designat...
Learn more about South Boundary Road - JH0017

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

This is an easy route to the beautiful, well-shaded, and peaceful Red Canyon Campground. The campground is at 7,600 feet in elevation. It can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It is easy access to the Manzano Wilderness on the Red and Spruce Canyon trails on foot or horseback. The campground has corr...
Learn more about Red Canyon Campground

Clarion Course is one of the more clear-cut trails in the area and shows more signs of use than many of the others. The trail surface is a combination of dirt, sand, and rocks but does not have any obstacles larger than 10 inches. There are sections with minor rutting and some off-camber turns, howe...
Learn more about Clarion Course

Sandwash is a trail that is exactly as named, beginning as a dirt hard-pack trail that quickly changes to a sandy wash track. As the trail begins to descend, it narrows to single-vehicle-width and changes from dirt to soft sand with one small rock garden hidden in the sand. The trail is easily trave...
Learn more about Sandwash

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

This is an easy route to the beautiful, well-shaded, and peaceful Red Canyon Campground. The campground is at 7,600 feet in elevation. It can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It is easy access to the Manzano Wilderness on the Red and Spruce Canyon trails on foot or horseback. The campground has corr...
Learn more about Red Canyon Campground

Clarion Course is one of the more clear-cut trails in the area and shows more signs of use than many of the others. The trail surface is a combination of dirt, sand, and rocks but does not have any obstacles larger than 10 inches. There are sections with minor rutting and some off-camber turns, howe...
Learn more about Clarion Course

Sandwash is a trail that is exactly as named, beginning as a dirt hard-pack trail that quickly changes to a sandy wash track. As the trail begins to descend, it narrows to single-vehicle-width and changes from dirt to soft sand with one small rock garden hidden in the sand. The trail is easily trave...
Learn more about Sandwash