Off-Road Trails Near Vaughn, New Mexico

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 the north side of the area. There are minimal washouts or other obstacles on this road, and it could easily ...
Learn more about Cougar Mountain Road

Windmill Way has a decent variety of terrain along its route. Composed of a combination of soft sand, dirt, and rocks, the trail winds its way to the southwest giving views of the surrounding mountains and a plateau to the north full of wind turbines. There are no obstacles larger than 10 inches alo...
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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 activities. Multiple excellent views of the surrounding desert are available, especially while ...
Learn more about Red Cloud Trail

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 part of the trail is driving on light gravel roads before you enter the National Forest. Th...
Learn more about Glorieta Peak

Sandwash is a trail that is exactly as named, beginning as a dirt hard-pack trail that quickly changes to a sandy wash track. As the trail begins to descend, it narrows to single-vehicle-width and changes from dirt to soft sand with one small rock garden hidden in the sand. The trail is easily trave...
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Open mesa plains with a web-like network of dirt roads with the occasional rocky obstacle and/or ledge. The general area is wide-open with scenic views of surrounding mesas. If you navigate deep enough into this area a couple nice rocky canyons can be found. Watch out for cattle as this is a commonl...
Learn more about El Cerrito Area of Santa Fe National Forest

Clarion Course is one of the more clear-cut trails in the area and shows more signs of use than many of the others. The trail surface is a combination of dirt, sand, and rocks but does not have any obstacles larger than 10 inches. There are sections with minor rutting and some off-camber turns, howe...
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Wandering Wake is a trail that shows minimal signs of use and is very primitive with no signs of maintenance being performed. The surface changes frequently from dirt to sand with some smaller rocky sections scattered through the length of the trail. While there are no large obstacles along the trai...
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Valle Grande East Cut is the furthest eastern motorized trail that extends east of the Hurtado Mesa area. This out-and-back trail offers a variety of terrain, foliage, and views. The trail is primarily single-vehicle wide but does offer areas to pass if traffic is encountered. The dirt and grass ter...
Learn more about Valle Grande East Cut

Arroyo de los Diegos is a primary dirt two-track that makes a partial loop from its connecting points off Valle Grande. The dirt surface shows some significant signs of rutting and erosion, with some areas of rutting being more than 20" or more in-depth, but still easily passable for most high clear...
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Suppose you're out looking for additional dispersed camping and some fantastic views. In that case, Rowe Mesa Loop will be quickly completed by most high clearance 2wd or AWD vehicles and offers a little bit of everything for offroading and camping. The most significant obstacles will be near the en...
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Barberro Mesa Drop begins on an easy dirt surface two-track through the upper mesa area before it ascends slightly over a loose rocky surface crest. The first 4.5 miles is a wide-open two-track with some rutting up to 15 inches in depth but no above-grade obstacles in excess of 8 inches. As the trai...
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This trail is easy and full of scenery. Most of the trail has amazing views of the nearby peaks and has very active wildlife. The trail comes to a dead-end at private property. Much of the trail is well-maintained dirt, but some sections have uphill climbs with rock gardens and ruts. High clearance ...
Learn more about Coyote Canyon

The trail is mostly dirt that runs through cattle pastures. The trail has ruts that can be 6-12 inches deep and can be off-camber. After rainfall, there are chances for multiple muddy sections and standing water. There are some rocky sections with rocks not exceeding over 6 inches. This trail provid...
Learn more about Cattle Run Pass

Mostly flat plains with sections of deep erosion causing washouts exceeding 10-12 inches deep. He trail has off-camber areas. Ock faces that are approximately 12 inches tall. Sections of deeply rutted muddy areas with standing water/mud can be 6-10 inches deep--scenic views of the surrounding mounta...
Learn more about Valle Grande

Relatively low threat at the start, but as you continue on, the two-track becomes slightly more narrow with larger rocks. The increased difficultly level is due to ledges with more significant mud holes proceeding them. It is situated on a more pronounced mesa before dipping back into the rolling hi...
Learn more about The Ascent

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 general store, really cool looking. Keep a lookout for wildlife, especially elk. The trail contained some m...
Learn more about Elk Standoff

Cerro Encinoso Loop begins immediately off CR-34 and is an easy dirt two-track for the first mile before making its steeper 19.4% grade climb up to the Cerro Encinoso plateau and continuing on to Hogback Hill. The climb up is over a rocky and lightly rutted uneven surface that most 4WD vehicles will...
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North Rim to Valle Verde covers FSR-124H, FSR-324HF, and a short section of FSR-324HH before intersecting FSR-325H. This route has a primarily dirt surface with some short areas of rocks. The trail is extremely tight in some areas with trees and other brush impeding over the single-vehicle-wide two-...
Learn more about FSR 124H and 324HF

San Geronimo Back Road is a moderately difficult trail that offers a wide range of obstacles on various surfaces, from rocks, shallow sandy washes, and deep ruts through the soft dirt sections, as well as some small areas that are showing signs of erosion. Obstacles can be up to 18 inches in size, w...
Learn more about San Geronimo Back 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 the north side of the area. There are minimal washouts or other obstacles on this road, and it could easily ...
Learn more about Cougar Mountain Road

Windmill Way has a decent variety of terrain along its route. Composed of a combination of soft sand, dirt, and rocks, the trail winds its way to the southwest giving views of the surrounding mountains and a plateau to the north full of wind turbines. There are no obstacles larger than 10 inches alo...
Learn more about Windmill Way

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 activities. Multiple excellent views of the surrounding desert are available, especially while ...
Learn more about Red Cloud Trail

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 part of the trail is driving on light gravel roads before you enter the National Forest. Th...
Learn more about Glorieta Peak

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 the north side of the area. There are minimal washouts or other obstacles on this road, and it could easily ...
Learn more about Cougar Mountain Road

Windmill Way has a decent variety of terrain along its route. Composed of a combination of soft sand, dirt, and rocks, the trail winds its way to the southwest giving views of the surrounding mountains and a plateau to the north full of wind turbines. There are no obstacles larger than 10 inches alo...
Learn more about Windmill Way

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 activities. Multiple excellent views of the surrounding desert are available, especially while ...
Learn more about Red Cloud Trail

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 part of the trail is driving on light gravel roads before you enter the National Forest. Th...
Learn more about Glorieta Peak