Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Lemitar, New Mexico

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San Lorenzo Canyon

San Lorenzo Canyon is a series of rock formations and canyons on the southern border of Servilleta Wildlife Refuge. This area features numerous hiking and camping opportunities in a unique landscape not far from Albuquerque.…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

South Canyon Rd.

This is a scenic drive starting at Hwy 60 in the high desert. You go through a gate to enter onto BLM land. At the entrance, there is a sign that states "Primitive road not…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

South Baldy Road

This road winds up South Baldy mountain through the Cibola National Forest to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory and Langmuir Laboratory and Atmospheric Research. The road is a well-maintained dirt road for the research facility to…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Molino Peak Trail

The Molino Peak Trail is a short, 5.3-mile route that takes you up past an old manganese mine (The Manganese Chief Mine). It winds its way up an old two-track that becomes progressively rockier the…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Glorieta Peak

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…
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Total Miles
15.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa

Cedro Peak Loop via FR 542

Cedro peak is one of the best sets of 4x4 trails near Albuquerque. This route goes up to the peak using the more primitive FR 542 route, and then returns on the wide gravel roads…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Coyote Mesa Trail

Coyote Mesa Trail is listed on MUVM maps as FR462. Its starts just south of Tijeras in Chamisos Canyon, and crosses the mesa north of Cedro Peak ending near the Zuzax area. This trail offers…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Red Cloud Trail

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…
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Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Palo Duroso Canyon

Despite appearing on most maps as NM state road 165, Palo Duroso Canyon is an unimproved dirt road from the time it leaves Placitas until until it meets 536 going to Sandia Crest. This road…
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Total Miles
7.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cougar Mountain Road

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…
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Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp / Wi

Forest Loop Road 445

Forest Loop Road 445 leads from NM Highway 165 to the northern base of the Sandia Mountains and back to NM 165. The western side of the loop is more difficult with some washouts, arroyos…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Sp / Su / Fa

Elk Standoff

The trail is well maintained with a few portions that contain small rock gardens. Towards the end of the trail, there are a number of old, abandoned structures. One appears to have been an old…
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Total Miles
25.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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

Granger

Dispersed camping with a beautiful view of the Sacramento Mountains. There are three trails that disperse out. Easy terrain for beginners riders. The trail is mainly dirt and loose rock, with a few rutted-out places.…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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

Cottonwood Flat

This trail is a through trail beginning at Virden Road off Hwy 70 N, 15 min past Tularosa, and ending on La Luz Canyon Road. Elevation ranges from 5,900 to 7,825, and in winter months…
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Total Miles
11.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Laborcita Canyon

Laborcita Canyon Road is located in Lincoln National Forest, just Northeast of La Luz, NM. This trail runs North-South through the National Forest. The trail starts on pavement then turns to dirt about a mile…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Caja del Rio to La Bajada Mesa-USFS 24

The Caja del Rio Road (#24) is a 23-mile drive across the Caja del Rio Plateau to La Bajada Mesa. It ends with a large escarpment dropping 1000 feet to the valley below with the…
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Total Miles
20.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hang Glider Road

Hang Glider road is a short side road near the end of Caja del Rio Road USFS 24. There is nothing special about this trail until you reach the end with spectacular views to the…
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Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Close to the Southern Edge

This is a short side road off of Caja Del Rio Road USFS 24, which takes you to a Southern escarpment of the plateau overlooking the Santa Fe River basin below. There are a few…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hale Lake Trail

The trail is well maintained and easily accessible by most vehicles, however, 2WD passenger vehicles may find some of the rocky areas difficult. The road is primarily dirt and gravel mixed with some rock gardens…
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Total Miles
14.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

La Luz

This trail starts in High Rolls off of Old Firehouse Road. Pass the houses and it becomes a dirt, rock and gravel winding road. There are a few hiking trails along the way as you…
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Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Five Mile Pass

Five Mile Pass is an unmaintained trail that tracks one of several valleys in the area with some changes in elevation and great views. The road is primarily dirt and rock, with some rock gardens…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Bailey Canyon

This trail is a short three-mile switchback road that goes from Hwy 82 to the center of La luz trail. The views are very decent and there are a handful of decent campsites along the…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Burleson Ridge

This spur runs off of Westside Road for three miles and ends at a locked gate, but there is a decent campsite on the right and ATV trails to the left. The end has a…
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Total Miles
36.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa