Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Rio Lucio, New Mexico

Bear Canyon is an easy ATV trail in the Carson National Forest that connects Trail 22 to Forest Road 1877. It is a wide, single-lane, road-width path that looks like it’s been bulldozed as a fire break and for logging. There are big log piles off to the side of the trail, and clear-cut hillsides. I...
Learn more about Bear Canyon Trail 28

Borregoanger cabin is a foundation deep in the National Forest next to an unusual quartz and granite promontory. The trail to reach the cabin leaves from the Borrego Mesa Trail and climbs down switchbacks into one of the canyons next to the mesa. The trail is mainly pine forest, though the end break...
Learn more about Borregoanger Cabin Cutoff

Pecos Wilderness Border Road (Forest Road 306E) is an ideal short trek for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to explore the scenic highlands of Borrego Mesa. Starting near the intersection with Borrego Mesa Road (Forest Road 306), this unmaintained 1.7-mile trail runs along t...
Learn more about Pecos Wilderness Border Road

Sardinas Canyon Trail 12 is a wide and rocky route through the Carson National Forest, off of Forest Road 76. Per the MVUM, the trail is designated for 50-inch vehicles, but there are no sign designations at the entrances of the trail, and it looks more like a full-width road, so you may see wider v...
Learn more about Sardinas Canyon Trail - FS 12

Beginning in the New Mexico town of Cordova, this trail climbs into the foothills of the Sangre De Christo Mountains. While the Borrego Mesa trail itself is relatively easy, it provides access to several other moderate routes throughout the area, as well as hiking and camping opportunities. Frequent...
Learn more about Borrego Mesa Trail

This is an in-and-back leading through Carson National Forest. Winding through and cresting at nearly 10,000 feet this is an easy cruise with some awesome scenery. Minimal traffic in the area but there is woodcutting so you may encounter other vehicles or people cutting wood. Most of the road is wid...
Learn more about Forest Road 722

Drive east from Taos or west from Shady Brook to reach Forest Road 10, located on the north side and marked by a sign for the monastery. This gravel road follows an out-and-back route through scenic forest terrain, offering peaceful views and a quiet drive. Several spur roads provide access to dispe...
Learn more about Capulin Forest Road

This road leads to the overlook campground then dead ends at the trailhead located above Santa Cruz Lake on a high escarpment, overlooking the lake from the southern end. Owned and operated by the BLM it has 12 first come, first served campsites. Each site is spacious and level with a shaded picnic ...
Learn more about Santa Cruz Lake Overlook Campground

This route is the main forest road that provides access to the 70 Moto Trail, which is a width-restricted motorized trail that climbs to Osha Pass. This trail also provides access to the Elliot Barker Trail 1, a hike, bike, horse trail that runs 12 miles along the east edge of the National Forest. I...
Learn more about Osha Pass - FS 70b

This trail is an offshoot of Forest Road 70/Osha Pass trail. It leaves the main trail and tracks along the boundary of public and private land for a short while before climbing the mountainside and tracking further north into the National Forest. It provides access to a network of logging roads in t...
Learn more about Apache Trail

This route is generally easy, with only a few areas requiring moderate ground clearance. It offers excellent scenery, including wetlands created by beavers along the Rio Chiquito. Numerous scenic campsites can be found beside the river. Trailers are not recommended, and cell service is limited for m...
Learn more about Rio Chaquito

Clara Peak a relatively relaxed drive starting through the plains of the lower BLM land east of Espanola before starting to climb in the Santa Fe National Forest. 31 mile road which lasts the majority of the drive is a well maintained dirt road with spectacular views of the surrounding area. When yo...
Learn more about Clara Peak

La Junta Canyon is an easy-going, scenic drive ideal for beginners, families, and high-clearance passenger vehicles looking to explore the beautiful Carson National Forest near Taos, New Mexico. Spanning approximately 1.0 mile with an easy climb of about 354 feet, this trail winds through lush pine ...
Learn more about La Junta Canyon

A nice in-and-back trail on forestry service roads through the Santa Fe National Forest near Ledoux, NM and Morphy Lake State Park. This is a woodcutting area so there can be the occasional traffic, but the trail has places wide enough to pass. The surface is mainly dirt and gravel with some rocky a...
Learn more about Ute Canyon

Difficulty: 2 (Easy) The West Rim trail offers 3.2 miles of scenic desert driving with spectacular canyon overlooks along the western edge of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Accessible from Taos Valley Road, this BLM route typically requires 45 minutes to complete, making it perfect for thos...
Learn more about West Rim Trail

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 ending up northeast in Tres Piedras. This route features dense pines and the occasional valley ov...
Learn more about FS 45 Vallecitos to Petaca

This trail is a well-maintained forest road that leads from US 64 to some logging trails along the border of the Taos Pueblo. The road is closed near the logging trails as its condition deteriorates and has many dispersed camping sites along the length of it. Use caution for wetlands near the creek,...
Learn more about La Jara Canyon

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 FS roads branching off FS 44, this route makes for a wonderful jumping-off point. There a...
Learn more about FS 44 El Rito to Vallecitos

Pacheco Canyon is a great easy trail near the Santa Fe Ski area, just outside Santa Fe, NM. The trail can be run in either direction, but the views heading downhill into Tesuque Village are amazing. There are several great places to camp along the side roads for this trail, so take extra time to exp...
Learn more about Pacheco Canyon

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 around 12 inches in depth, with the occasional loose rocks up to 10 inches in size. The trail will b...
Learn more about Truck Trl FSR-123

Bear Canyon is an easy ATV trail in the Carson National Forest that connects Trail 22 to Forest Road 1877. It is a wide, single-lane, road-width path that looks like it’s been bulldozed as a fire break and for logging. There are big log piles off to the side of the trail, and clear-cut hillsides. I...
Learn more about Bear Canyon Trail 28

Borregoanger cabin is a foundation deep in the National Forest next to an unusual quartz and granite promontory. The trail to reach the cabin leaves from the Borrego Mesa Trail and climbs down switchbacks into one of the canyons next to the mesa. The trail is mainly pine forest, though the end break...
Learn more about Borregoanger Cabin Cutoff

Pecos Wilderness Border Road (Forest Road 306E) is an ideal short trek for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to explore the scenic highlands of Borrego Mesa. Starting near the intersection with Borrego Mesa Road (Forest Road 306), this unmaintained 1.7-mile trail runs along t...
Learn more about Pecos Wilderness Border Road

Sardinas Canyon Trail 12 is a wide and rocky route through the Carson National Forest, off of Forest Road 76. Per the MVUM, the trail is designated for 50-inch vehicles, but there are no sign designations at the entrances of the trail, and it looks more like a full-width road, so you may see wider v...
Learn more about Sardinas Canyon Trail - FS 12

Borregoanger cabin is a foundation deep in the National Forest next to an unusual quartz and granite promontory. The trail to reach the cabin leaves from the Borrego Mesa Trail and climbs down switchbacks into one of the canyons next to the mesa. The trail is mainly pine forest, though the end break...
Learn more about Borregoanger Cabin Cutoff

Pecos Wilderness Border Road (Forest Road 306E) is an ideal short trek for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to explore the scenic highlands of Borrego Mesa. Starting near the intersection with Borrego Mesa Road (Forest Road 306), this unmaintained 1.7-mile trail runs along t...
Learn more about Pecos Wilderness Border Road

Beginning in the New Mexico town of Cordova, this trail climbs into the foothills of the Sangre De Christo Mountains. While the Borrego Mesa trail itself is relatively easy, it provides access to several other moderate routes throughout the area, as well as hiking and camping opportunities. Frequent...
Learn more about Borrego Mesa Trail

This is an in-and-back leading through Carson National Forest. Winding through and cresting at nearly 10,000 feet this is an easy cruise with some awesome scenery. Minimal traffic in the area but there is woodcutting so you may encounter other vehicles or people cutting wood. Most of the road is wid...
Learn more about Forest Road 722