Dirt Bike Trails
Near Casa Colorada, New Mexico

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 area is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management that borders the Wildlife Refuge. The Lad...
Learn more about Riley CR 12

A nice trail for beginners wanting a fun challenge. This trail is packed with rocks, washed-out roads and a few steep inclines to keep you on your toes. Go with a buddy due to a large amount of sharp rocks and cactus. While on the trail you'll have sights of huge open fields and desert, surrounded b...
Learn more about Powerline Pass

This is a spur trail off Riley CR 12. It winds around some small hills and ends at a picturesque windmill, watering tank, and building ruins. The majestic Ladron mountains create the backdrop. Locals target shoot in this area so listen for shooting before venturing onto this trail.
Learn more about Windmill

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

This is an easy route to the beautiful, well-shaded, and peaceful Red Canyon Campground. The campground is at 7,600 feet in elevation. It can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It is easy access to the Manzano Wilderness on the Red and Spruce Canyon trails on foot or horseback. The campground has corr...
Learn more about Red Canyon Campground

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. It's a favorite day trip for locals, and you will often find others here hi...
Learn more about San Lorenzo Canyon

This route is rocky in some areas and has other areas with deep ruts and slick, sticky mud with any type of moisture. It travels through private property before entering the Carson Forest. The route gradually climbs out of Diablo Canyon and levels out with gorgeous views of the Manzano Mountains.
Learn more about FS 55 Tajique Canyon

This route leads to the premier area to see the Big Tooth Maple in the Manzano Mountains. It is the largest stand of maples in New Mexico. The road is easy but narrow in spots. Camping is available from April through November for tents and tent trailers. There is also a parking area for some short h...
Learn more about Fourth of July Campground

This relatively flat, sandy route travels on the east side of the Veranito Wilderness Study Area and the south side of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. There are some erosion issues, especially toward the end of the route. It dead ends at a geological gap curiously named Puertecito of Bowling...
Learn more about Puertecito of Bowling Green

This beautiful, narrow route is a little challenging in spots. Fortunately, the challenges are navigable and not very dangerous. If you get into trouble, there are various places to have another vehicle help out. The main issues are deep sand, arroyo crossings, erosion, and rocks. Soaring hawks and ...
Learn more about Little Challenge

This route is officially WSMR P Route 5 but most of the signs are gone. It is a smooth sailing, picturesque route that travels along ridges and drops into arroyos and drainages. The vegetation is the upper Chihuahua Desert biome. The route is sandy in spots with erosion ruts along the sides. There a...
Learn more about Smooth Sailing

Coyote Exit begins just off the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, works its way around the Cerillos de Coyote plateaus, and culminates into a panorama overlook of the surrounding mountain ranges. This includes the Sierra de la Campana, Fra Cristobal, Chupadera, San Mateo, Magdalena, and Sierra Ladrones M...
Learn more about Coyote Exit

As this route climbs Johnson Hill, it follows the National Historical Trail the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. This translates to The Royal Road of the Interior Land. It was also known as the Silver Route. It is a 1,590-mile road between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay Owingeh), New Mexico...
Learn more about Johnson Hill View

Coyote Hills is one of the area’s longer, more iconic hard trails, packed with a variety of obstacles that keep drivers engaged from start to finish. True to its name, the trail features multiple large “waterfall” ledges scattered along the climb, each offering its own unique challenge. The trail wa...
Learn more about Coyote Hills

The Johnson/Gordy's hill area is known for its extremes. Most people come here either to do the very accessible Quebradas Backcountry Byway or the more challenging climbs through the arroyos. This route is for those looking for something in between. Along the way, you will find sweeping desert vista...
Learn more about Johnson Hill Desert Exploration Route

Lower Arroyo de Los Pinos is an essential trail often used to access the larger trail system in the area. It branches directly off Quebradas Backcountry Byway Road and is located just shortly after the major staging area. This trail is relatively easy but does begin with a somewhat steep descent int...
Learn more about Lower Arroyo de Los Pinos

The Quebradas Backcountry Byway is a National Scenic Byway, starting north of Socorro and zipping through the desert down to Highway 380. Along the way, you will see a variety of desert landscapes, with rainbow-hued stratification visible on the mountains to the east. The start of the route also ser...
Learn more about Quebradas Backcountry Byway

3 Stooges is a tight, technical trail that starts with an uneven rock bed climb. It quickly leads into a tricky V-notch with a sharp Z-turn; misplace a tire here, and you risk ending up on your side. The trail continues through a narrow uphill canyon with small ledges and a boulder garden, demanding...
Learn more about 3 Stooges

The Causeway begins just past the entrance to Hidden Valley and immediately begins with a steep dirt climb that keeps gaining in elevation and is littered with small loose rocks. As you continue to climb and reach the plateau, a nice overlook of the Quebradas and surrounding areas awaits. As quickly...
Learn more about The Causeway

Bad Hair Day "BHD" begins at an intersection of trails most commonly run in conjunction with Hidden Valley. The trail begins working its way up a wash and begins to narrow with the increasing size of boulder fields and ledges. This trail will test both driver and vehicle. BHD should be a challenge f...
Learn more about Bad Hair Day "BHD"

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 area is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management that borders the Wildlife Refuge. The Lad...
Learn more about Riley CR 12

A nice trail for beginners wanting a fun challenge. This trail is packed with rocks, washed-out roads and a few steep inclines to keep you on your toes. Go with a buddy due to a large amount of sharp rocks and cactus. While on the trail you'll have sights of huge open fields and desert, surrounded b...
Learn more about Powerline Pass

This is a spur trail off Riley CR 12. It winds around some small hills and ends at a picturesque windmill, watering tank, and building ruins. The majestic Ladron mountains create the backdrop. Locals target shoot in this area so listen for shooting before venturing onto this trail.
Learn more about Windmill

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

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 area is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management that borders the Wildlife Refuge. The Lad...
Learn more about Riley CR 12

This is a spur trail off Riley CR 12. It winds around some small hills and ends at a picturesque windmill, watering tank, and building ruins. The majestic Ladron mountains create the backdrop. Locals target shoot in this area so listen for shooting before venturing onto this trail.
Learn more about Windmill

This route travels through the southern tip of the Manzano Mountains and connects the village of Manzano on State Highway 131 with State Highway 60. It travels along a right-of-way through private property on both ends before entering the Cibola Forest. The trail can be dusty and has a few low water...
Learn more about FS 422 Priest Canyon

This is an easy route to the beautiful, well-shaded, and peaceful Red Canyon Campground. The campground is at 7,600 feet in elevation. It can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It is easy access to the Manzano Wilderness on the Red and Spruce Canyon trails on foot or horseback. The campground has corr...
Learn more about Red Canyon Campground