Helms Trail

Total Miles
7.2

Technical Rating

5

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Summer

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

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Helms Trail
8

Trail Overview

This is a more technical trail that connects Tularosa Canyon and Coyote Canyon. This high desert route carves through riverbeds and up steep hills with loose rocks, making it an excellent tour of New Mexico terrain. Some sections are narrow due to washout and the specific route of travel may change slightly after heavy rain. This trail is easily accessible from Coyote Canyon and must be carefully navigated approaching Tularosa around clearly labeled private property.

Photos of Helms Trail

Helms Trail
Helms Trail

Difficulty

There are many steep rutted gradients with loose rocks. Some hills have larger obstacles with bypasses, but the majority of the trail does not have bypass routes.

Technical Rating

5

Status Reports

Brandon Lilly
Jul 02, 2025
Open
Normal
Great trail! Lots of great views with intermediate challenges sprinkled in. Gatekeeper is on the South end of the trail near 70. I was very happy to have a spotter since I couldn’t see the trail beneath my hood while descending. I’m a novice with a 3 inch lift and 35s on a 2 door JK. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to climb it and was definitely on the edge of my comfort zone descending. The rest of the trail was well within my comfort zone while still being exciting.
Darryl W
May 09, 2025
SxS
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Watch out for washouts. Significant rain has created some fairly deep washouts. They are avoidable by using bypasses but are not visible if you are cruising above 30mph. Slow down and watch your line, rollovers are possible in some of the steeper climbs due to the loose rocks.
John Barber
Jan 31, 2025
2022 Jeep Gladiator
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
if entering from the south the entry hill to the trail is very rough. Large rock step at the top, choose your line carefully. almost rolled my JT because of very loose rock.
Justin Mix
Sep 15, 2024
2021 Ford Ranger
Open
Normal
Rough/Deteriorated

Access Description

The trail is easiest to follow starting from the Coyote Canyon side. There are private properties in Tularosa that must be navigated around, with a few easements to slowly transit through.

Helms Trail Map

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