Beginner Off-Road Trails Near San Mateo, New Mexico

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…
Learn more about Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road

This trail follows BLM 1103 from the floor of the Rio Puerco Valley up a steep, rocky section to the top of a mesa. The route travels between the Ignacio Chavez Wilderness Study Area, Chamisa…
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This route might be a good alternative route when certain sections of "Backway to Cabezon" are washed out. The trail coincides with BLM 1113 for some sections but is rerouted for the portion of BLM…
Learn more about Cabezon Detour

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…
Learn more about Hole in the Wall at Malpais National Monument

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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This route connects the Old State Highway 279 off Highway 550 with South Pipeline Road, or Backway to Cabezon Peak. There is one major obstacle through the Rio Puerco Arroyo at the northern end. The…
Learn more about North Pipeline Road

San Luis Road to the Guadalupe Ruins is a fairly well-maintained dirt road, although there may be some ruts and sandy portions depending on the time of year. The 20-mile drive will provide opportunities to…
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This route follows the pipeline easement along the Ojito Wilderness to the east and through Zia Pueblo land. It connects Cabezon Road with Backway to Cabezon Peak or the North Pipeline Road. The route has…
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Southern Circle is located on BLM land in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. This trail can give you access to some tribal land, so be careful not to take other routes. It is an easy off-road…
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The trail travels along the south and west boundaries of the El Malpais National Monument and surrounding BLM land. The trail begins in a wide-open plain with desert scrub largely used for cattle grazing before…
Learn more about Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway

Relatively easy trail to one of the more remote ruins of the Chaco Canyon culture. The trail was rutted and uneven, and the last few hundred yards had significant mud due to recent rains. Otherwise,…
Learn more about Chaco Canyon to Kin Klizhin

This gem of a route has many facets and is close to Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. The facets include geologic formations, bike trails, and hiking trails. The route is easy and there are nice parking…
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This double-track trail takes you through cattle grazing farmland and ends at an overlook. Cows can be seen near the trail. There is nowhere to camp or turn around until the end of the trail.…
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This sandy, rutted route leads past Mesa de Cuba, the most eastern of the five mesas that comprise the San Juan Basin Badlands. There are a few places to park along the road. A short…
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This route branches off Forest Service Road 376 past the Gilman Tunnels and follows part of the Old Peggy Mesa Road. The trail is generally easy, with a few moderate rocks near the start and…
Learn more about Revengers Ride

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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This route travels through piñon and juniper trees in the lower elevation and ponderosa pine trees and Aspen at the higher elevations. The trail is sandy and rutted in a few spots. There is a…
Learn more about West Trail Creek - FR 20

This is a point-to-point route that takes you from Road 550 in Nageezi to the Valley of Dreams trailhead/parking lot. The first quarter to half mile or so is paved but quickly turns to a…
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This easy route takes you from Highway 550 on CR 378 through Johnson Canyon to Largo Canyon. The sandy, rutted trail travels around incredible rock formations with black, yellow, and red layers of sedimentary rock.…
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When looking at the map, you can see that this road leads to private land, however, at the start of the trail, there is a sign that reads that it goes on for around 16…
Learn more about Bear Springs Road 266

This is a short ATV trail through the Santa Fe National Forest that follows a dirt two-track between ponderosa pines in a dry and sparse forest environment. The track is mostly gradual, with a bit…
Learn more about Eureka West

This is a very short ATV trail between Eureka West and Eureka East, which makes a short loop off of the high clearance 4x4 Eureka Mesa route. It is a bit overgrown and faint at…
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This is a short two-track through a forested environment in the Santa Fe National Forest, following a wide corridor between the pine trees. The track is rutted out in spots, making it uneven and chopped…
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This short ATV trail starts on the west end at a dispersed campsite in the forest, just off of Horse Canyon (FS 157). It follows the powerlines east on a dirt two-track across grassy meadows,…
Learn more about Windy Trail - 612

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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This easy, beautiful mountain route travels through aspen stands, ponderosa pines, and gorgeous open meadows. FR 103 Teakettle Rock can be reached from Highway 96 by traveling south on the OnX trail "Run to the…
Learn more about Teakettle Rock - FR 103

This is a primitive and lightly trafficked dirt bike trail in the Santa Fe National Forest. It’s unmarked at all entrances, and is difficult to find and follow, as it looks like it doesn’t get…
Learn more about Lake Fork Mesa Loop - 505A

Forest Service Road 10 is an absolutely million-dollar view road guaranteed to leave you awestruck. The entrance off Highway 4 has been washed out so only trucks or high-clearance vehicles can maneuver the ditch obstacle.…
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This is an easy high mountain route that has incredible views, open meadows, wildflowers, aspen groves, and drop-offs. Numerous trailheads can be accessed from this route including the popular San Gregorio Reservoir and San Pedro…
Learn more about FR 70 American Creek

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…
Learn more about Riley CR 12