Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Twin Lakes, New Mexico

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, the trail to the ruins was relatively easy, with incredible views of the high desert and Chaco Canyon...
Learn more about Chaco Canyon to Kin Klizhin

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 graded dirt road which gets increasingly less groomed the closer you get to the trailhead. Rutted and rough in pl...
Learn more about Valley of Dreams East

Off of Da-Na-Zin Road, this short spur trail takes you to an overlook right on the edge of the Bisti badlands. There is a closed gate at the entrance that should be closed behind you. This short two-track trail has a few washouts but can be done in any typical 4WD SUV or truck. The trail is tight, s...
Learn more about Bisti Badlands Overlook

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. The trail is smooth and can be done in 2WD under good conditions. The overlook is a great place to camp, rig...
Learn more about Chaco Overlook

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 starts off as graded gravel, giving way to a more primitive dirt road, which is easily passable i...
Learn more about Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road

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 the Wall" in back country of Malpais Wilderness. Malpais consists of a series of large lava fi...
Learn more about Hole in the Wall at Malpais National Monument

This trail is a mixed-use oil and ranching road that runs between Route 550 and Road 7007. It offers relatively rapid access to the trails that zig-zag between Angel's Edge and Largo Canyon. From 550, the trail starts as a clay-based, deeply rutted road that cuts across the open, high desert grassl...
Learn more about Jacquez Canyon Road

The route is relatively easy except for washboarding and ruts in spots. It takes you to breathtaking views of rock formations, including Castle Rock and Angel Peak. Picnic tables overlook the amazing canyons. The campground can accommodate single-vehicle campers and small trailers. There are several...
Learn more about Angel Peak Picnic and Campground

While this trail is not technically challenging there are a lot of terrain changes over it's 7.5-mile length. The west end of the trail starts with dirt, packed clay, and sand in a fairly open setting before climbing up over some bare sandstone with some minor ledges to drop down through surrounding...
Learn more about Kutz Canyon East

CR 7020 is a 7-mile off-road trail and oil access road that serves as the easiest and most direct route from Highway 550 to the Angel Peak Loop and Kutz Canyon. The trail combines sections of deep sand and packed dirt, providing a generally smooth drive under dry conditions. However, its accessibili...
Learn more about RD 7020

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 graded dirt road which gets increasingly less groomed the closer you get to the trailhead. Rutted and rough in pl...
Learn more about Valley of Dreams East

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. The trail is smooth and can be done in 2WD under good conditions. The overlook is a great place to camp, rig...
Learn more about Chaco Overlook

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 starts off as graded gravel, giving way to a more primitive dirt road, which is easily passable i...
Learn more about Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road

This trail is a mixed-use oil and ranching road that runs between Route 550 and Road 7007. It offers relatively rapid access to the trails that zig-zag between Angel's Edge and Largo Canyon. From 550, the trail starts as a clay-based, deeply rutted road that cuts across the open, high desert grassl...
Learn more about Jacquez Canyon Road

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 graded dirt road which gets increasingly less groomed the closer you get to the trailhead. Rutted and rough in pl...
Learn more about Valley of Dreams East

Off of Da-Na-Zin Road, this short spur trail takes you to an overlook right on the edge of the Bisti badlands. There is a closed gate at the entrance that should be closed behind you. This short two-track trail has a few washouts but can be done in any typical 4WD SUV or truck. The trail is tight, s...
Learn more about Bisti Badlands Overlook

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. The trail is smooth and can be done in 2WD under good conditions. The overlook is a great place to camp, rig...
Learn more about Chaco Overlook

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 starts off as graded gravel, giving way to a more primitive dirt road, which is easily passable i...
Learn more about Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road