Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Lake Valley, New Mexico

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Largo Canyon to Crow Canyon

This out and back trail leads to several panels of petroglyphs and a ruin that all require a short walk to view. Simple oilfield dirt roads lead you to the canyon entrance that will take…
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Total Miles
21.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hill Road Pueblito

This is an easy trail off New Mexico Highway 64 to the Hill Road Pueblito, an archeological site constructed in the late 1730s and early 1740s. Hill Road Pueblito sits on a boulder outcrop overlooking…
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Total Miles
13.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp

Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road

This 4x4 road is a great intro to overlanding, with stunning views and minimal technical obstacles. Starting from Grants, the road climbs almost 5000 feet to within 1/2 mile of Mt. Taylor peak. The road…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hole in the Wall at Malpais National Monument

This excellent day trip starts on the western edge of Malpais National Monument, drives by the Big Tubes cave system and then crosses an easy introduction to driving over rock before accessing the "Hole in…
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Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Backway to Cabezon Peak

This set of well maintained, dirt roads provides access to Cabezon Peak from nearby Pipeline Road. It passes through some typical New Mexican high-desert scenery, with shrubs and cacti on either side of a winding…
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Total Miles
11.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Canyon De Chelly

This park sits entirely on Navajo tribal lands. Beautiful ruins, Indian writings and phenomenal scenery are just a few of the perks you'll experience here. You can take a guide along with you, or use…
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Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Railroad Grade

Lots of camping before this road, and some camping at the end of the road, with cows, hope you like a good morning moo and cow pies! Lots of mud when wet, and water crossing,…
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Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Copper Mine

The Copper Mines are located in the Santa Fe National Forest just east of Cuba, New Mexico. The trail begins from Highway 126 and the intersection of Eureka Mesa Road. Off-highway parking is suggested due…
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Total Miles
18.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Junction Creek

Amazing views, camp spots, hikes. It's a very easy road, with some uphill climbs, but a 2WD can do it in good weather conditions. The road can be muddy when wet.Dirt or rocky road with…
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Total Miles
19
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Helmet Peak

Very tight road, not recommended for a wide wheelbase or tall vehicle, beautiful views, very rocky, muddy when wet. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You may encounter shallow water crossings…
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Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Chicken Creek Road

Rocky road in some spots, nothing to difficult though, easily done with a high clearance rig, muddy when wet. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You may encounter shallow water crossings…
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Total Miles
8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Millwood Road

This road runs along private property, so please keep in mind and be respectful; when wet, this road becomes a crazy muddy mess; you will find huge mud tracks and potholes that will hurt if…
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Total Miles
10.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ditches Road

Lots and lots of camping, big area for RVs and large groups. Water crossing halfway through the trail, lots of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. It can be muddy when wet.Dirt or rocky road,…
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Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

FS376

FS376 is a 23-mile long trail that weaves through the Jemez National Forest, gaining about 3,200 feet in elevation high above the Rio Guadalupe. This route takes you through the historic Gilman Tunnels, which were…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Devil Mountain-Fr Rd 626

Camping, Jeeping and Hunting on Devil Mountain-Fr Rd 626 There is some space when you first turn onto the trail from Hwy 160 to air up or down. After that area the Devil Mountain trail…
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Total Miles
10.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Spring Creek Road

This is a short drive in a residential area, but if you're looking for beautiful aspen trees, I recommend checking this road out. The road does get muddy when wet. There are a few hiking,…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Spring Cr Pt Road

Can be muddy when wet. The road offers a decent view at the end overlooking a valley. There is a gate, so please close it behind you! If you like cows, you'll have plenty of…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Devil Creek Wildlife Management Area-Fr Rd 627

The Devil Creek trail is a short trail leading to the 561 acre Devil Creek Wildlife Management area. Part way up the trail is a very interesting rock on your left. At the end of…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Resumidero Meadow Camping

This short, easy route takes off from Forest Road 103. It leads to gorgeous, alpine meadows and disbursed, primitive camping at 9000 feet elevation. The camp area is a great staging area to explore the…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Hillside Drive

Hillside Drive, , Forest Road 436 is an easy and delightful drive up a hillside in the San Juan Forest. You cross the Dolores River to start, then head upwards with Burnette Canyon on your…
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Total Miles
15.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beaver Rim Road

Fun little road that has some rutted areas with mud possible when wet. Can get tight in spots, has some camping, and offers a cool view at the end. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Upper House Creek Road

This trail is very muddy in spots and has small water puddles. It offers lots of camping with hiking and biking trails. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You may encounter…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Jemez to Espanola

This is a very scenic route around the North side of the Valles Caldera. It goes from the Jemez Mountains over to Espanola and is a great full-day loop with plenty of exploring to be…
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Total Miles
57.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Boggy Draw Road

This trail has camping spots and offers biking, hiking, and riding trails with beautiful views. The road can be muddy when wet and has ruts in some places. Dirt or rocky road with gentle grades.…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Beaver Rim F Road

This road can be very dusty when dry and muddy when wet. Beautiful view at the end with a small camp spot for one or two people. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained after rain…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Trail Canyon

This road offers some beautiful views and some camp spots. Dirt or rocky road, typically unmaintained after rain or snow. Can be muddy when wet. You may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12"…
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Total Miles
9.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Eight Mile Mesa E-USFS Rd #651E

Eight Mile Mesa E (#651E) forks right with Eight Mile Mesa D (#651D) forking to the left at the end of the main Eight Mile Mesa Road, approximately 6.5 miles from the highway turnoff. This…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Eight Mile Mesa D-USFS Rd #651D

Eight Mile Mesa D (#651D) forks left with Eight Mile Mesa E (#651E) forking to the right at the end of the main Eight Mile Mesa road, approximately 6.5 miles from the highway turnoff. This…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Piedra Road-Fr Rd 631

Piedra road will lead you north out of Pagosa Springs past the airport and a few neighborhoods. It eventually turns into a forest service road with two large parking areas and trailheads at the beginning.…
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Total Miles
34.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Eight Mile Mesa C-USFS Rd #651C

Eight Mile Mesa C (#651C) forks left off the main road about 5 miles from the beginning of the USFS road. It's about 4.5 miles to the end where there were a few disturbed primitive…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp