Trail Overview

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 dirt road. It takes you up a ridge with excellent views of the surrounding desert and down into the arroyos below before leading to the parking area for the Cabezon Peak hiking trail. The hiking trail takes you to the top of Cabezon Peak and is a steep, out-and-back trail with a scramble at the far end to get to the top.

Photos of Backway to Cabezon Peak

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Difficulty

This trail is easy in good conditions. There are a few stops that are pretty steep, and some short rutted areas, but any vehicle with some ground clearance should be able to make it. When the ground is wet or snow covered this dirt becomes clay which sticks to tires and makes the trail very slippery.

Technical Rating

Silvio Aldebot

Apr 07, 2026

Open

Rough, unmaintained road. Serves as an alternate route to Cabezón but it's a bit sketch. You ultimately come across a primitive barbed wire gate. Everything is BLM land with cattle grazing allotments, it seems, so it's probably fine to open it, cross, and close behind you. There are a few roundabouts to circumvent some seriously rutted areas. Don't bother, I say..

Glenn Boudreaux

Feb 16, 2026

Open

I traveled the Backway to Cabezon Peak from South Pipeline Road. Approximately half-way to Cabezon Peak, I first encountered a large exposed culvert pipe. USE CAUTION HERE! Passable by Jeep, Bronco, or SxS. Not Recommended for Full Size Vehicles. See photo. The second obstacle was not passable where arroyo erosion is narrowing and undercutting the edge of the road here. WARNING! Not Passable in Any Vehicle. Only small ATV's, mountain bikes, or motorcycles can safely pass here.

Jordan smith

Aug 05, 2025

Open

Wearing a super wide full-size rig, narrow rigs will be more OK for it but it’s about a 10 foot drop if you fall into the ditch so just be aware stay safe if you need a spotter use a spotter

Glenn Boudreaux

Jul 27, 2025

Open

Most of the road is in good condition with a few small arroyo’s that were easy to drive across. A previously mentioned culvert was exposed above a very narrow part of the road, but stable. Just need to make sure your wheels are centered on the road. One other narrow section was next to a deep arroyo where the edge was crumbling and unstable. Just keep away from the edge.

Kyle Treadwell

Jun 07, 2025

Open

Lastly, my friend in the 2019 Jeep Rubicon and I took the Backway to Cabezon Peak. The trail begins fairly easily, but it quickly becomes more technical. The first challenge is a narrow culvert crossing, with edges that jut out slightly from the ground—careful tire placement is key. Shortly after, there's a tight, off-camber section with a noticeable drop-off on one side, so proceed with caution. Toward the end, we came across a washout area, but it had dried enough for us to drop in and climb out without issue. In wet conditions, though, this section would be much more difficult. I rate this a 3/10.

Dawson Hitchens

Mar 28, 2025

Open

Steve Z

Nov 02, 2024

Open

Caution, steep wash out and very narrow bypass. Full size and wide vehicles need to use extreme caution that the soft soil doesn't crumble way to a fifteen foot drop.

Mark Holmstrup

Apr 14, 2024

Open

Last part of trail leading to Cabezon has a locked gate, with a sign that says "Wilderness Study Area."