New Mexico Off-Road Trails

Boy Scout Road is a bumpy ride up into the New Mexico wilderness. The short trail meets up with a number of hiking trails, including the Captains Peak Trail. The rough road is not seasonal but does have gates in the event of bad weather or known washouts. The end of the trail is gated. Return the way you came.

La Mosca Peak Look Out is a must-do trail if you are running around the Cibola National Forest north of Grants, New Mexico. The trail travels in a half-loop shape, starting and ending off Laguna Bonita Road. The trail climbs to the La Mosca Peak Look Out and radio towers at 11,036 elevation just below the summit of Mount Taylor. The views from the top of this trail are incredible. Standing at the base of the lookout platform can be almost vertigo-inducing. Although you can climb the stone steps up to the lookout tower's base, the public cannot access the interior or upper level of the tower itself. There are at least six dispersed camping sites of various sizes across the 16 miles of this trail.

The moderate rating is due to sections of steep climbs on the way up to the lookout, with shelf drops posing a higher risk during inclement weather and may feel daunting to novice drivers in good weather. Apart from a short, exposed rock area north of the lookout tower, most of the trail is rough dirt and easily traversed.

Chupadero Mine Road is a ruggedly beautiful two-mile trek into the Chihuahuan Desert Scrub of the Quebradas. The trail crosses multiple arroyos that drain into the Rio Grande River and erosion here has created not only breathtaking and scenic geological exposures, but also some excellent 4WD opportunities. Located within Johnson (Gordy's) Hill OHV Area, the area has many recreational uses, including 4WD, OHV, equestrian, and bicycle riding, camping, hiking, and photography. There are two nearby wildlife refuges, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to the south and the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge to the north, as well as multiple wilderness observation areas along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway. The Magdalena Mountains, Ladrone Mountain, Sandia Mountains, Manzano Mountains, Oscura Mountains, San Andreas Mountains, and other features too numerous to list can be seen in the panoramic views from this trail.

Near Socorro, NM and located off of the incredibly scenic Quebradas Backcountry Byway, this segment of Arroyo de Los Pinos is great for employing your driving skills while seeing much more of the area than you could from the Byway above. As you arrive, the color of the rock and earth are impossible to miss due to the presence of hematite, the same mineral that gives the planet Mars its red hue. The first segment of the trail from the Quebradas road to the arroyo floor takes you through a 400-foot elevation change, providing beautiful panoramic vistas of the region and its surrounding mountain ranges. Moving through the arroyo, bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone are all exposed. There are many trails along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, which divides the 6,000-acre Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area from west to east, providing offroad driving challenges for all experience levels and offroad vehicle capabilities.

Stinking Springs, FR 191, runs through the Cibola National Forest from Highway 400 to the edge of the Navajo Nation, where it becomes County Road 48. The trail begins in the east as a well-graded forest road with numerous large pine-shaded campsites passing Prewitt Lake and a large open meadow. Moving west, the road deteriorates with deep ruts before plunging off the western side of the Zuni Mountains into Stinking Springs Canyon via a narrow rocky shelf road with one extremely tight switchback turn. The views in the descent are impressive. The lower canyon is tree-lined and lush.

The BLM-administered area of the Quebradas (Spanish for "breaks") has 4WD trails ranging in difficulty from mild to wild. Known to local offroaders as a test of driver and vehicle alike, Doug's Dilemma is a challenging trail on the "wild" end of the scale. However, it can still be conquered without a purpose-built rock crawling rig or buggy. Though somewhat technical, requiring experience and a capable high-clearance 4WD vehicle, this is a really fun trail. If you enjoy the challenge of picking the right line while crawling over and through rock, you will like Doug's Dilemma!

The scenic high mountain desert area near Socorro, NM that is the Quebradas encompasses the 600-acre Gordy's Hill OHV Area, home to dozens of 4WD trails as well as singletrack, hiking, and ATV trails. The area is adjacent to two wilderness study areas and there are two nearby wildlife refuges - the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to the south and the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge to the north. Also found here is a trail known as Squeeze Canyon, the apex of which is a 100-foot gauntlet between two rock walls, littered with large rocks, that is only slightly wider than a vehicle. Squeeze Canyon is known for the challenge it offers offroad enthusiasts looking to test their skills, their nerve, and their willingness to accept possible vehicle damage. This trail is a delight for drivers who like technically difficult four-wheeling that is still short of extreme. Winding up this narrow, rocky ravine will demand all of a driver's attention, so it may be difficult to take in all of the natural beauty surrounding the trail. Nonetheless, it's worth a try, as millions of years of exposed geological features accent the landscape and despite being in the desert, the flora is magnificent year-round.

Venturing out from the Quebradas Backcountry Byway via Arroyo de Los Pinos and Hidden Valley Loop, the Upper Amado Canyon trail takes you deep into the desert badlands of the Quebradas (Spanish for "breaks") near Socorro, NM. There is a feeling of intense solitude while wheeling this trail, where the only sounds are the rocks beneath your wheels, your vehicle, and the occasional flying insect. The arid desert landscape of the Quebradas is harsh yet beautiful, and it's teeming with life. Moving through the area, bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone are all exposed in stunning geological features. There are many offroad trails along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, which divides the 6,000-acre Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area from north to south, providing offroad driving challenges for all experience levels and offroad vehicle capabilities. Upper Amado Canyon is part of a network of moderately technical/difficult 4WD trails concentrated in this section of the Quebradas that can be strung together for an awesome day of wheeling. If you enjoy the challenge of picking lines and a little rock crawling, you will like this trail!

The BLM-administered areas of the Quebradas have 4WD trails ranging in difficulty from "mild to wild." Known to local offroaders as a test of driver and vehicle alike, Bad Hair Day is one of a handful of trails on the wild end of the scale that can be conquered without a purpose-built rock crawling rig or buggy, and it is a lot of fun to tackle! Getting to this trail takes you well into the ruggedly beautiful badlands of the Quebradas. About 1.5 miles off of the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, portions of two other trails are traversed in order to reach this trail. A popular destination for offroad enthusiasts, one can easily plan a full day or multiple days of wheeling in this area, which is part of the 6,000-acre Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area.

Flagstone Road gets its name from when it was a path for folks to head into the Coyote Hills to harvest flagstone, a popular material used in local architecture and landscaping. The 360-degree vistas along this trail are spectacular, and the array of rocks and fossils along the way is endlessly fascinating. Located in the Quebradas, an area known for its striking geological formations, including colorful rock layers, eroded cliffs, and distinctive landforms, Flagstone Road is the perfect trail for getting dirt under your tires and exploring the beauty of the New Mexico desert.

In addition to offroading, the area around the Quebradas Backcountry Byway offers several outdoor activities, including hiking, photography, birdwatching, and geology exploration. The unique rock formations and desert landscapes provide opportunities for both short walks and longer hikes.

The byway takes travelers through a variety of desert landscapes, including badlands, canyons, and arroyos (dry streambeds). The stark beauty of the desert scenery is a highlight of the byway.

Horace Mesa is an easy dirt trail in the Cibola National Forest north of Grants, New Mexico. Running the half-loop-shaped route, you pass Lobo Canyon Picnic Ground, climb to the mesa edge, intersect with the Continental Divide Trail and Gooseberry Trail, and pass various dispersed campsites along the way. Views from the top of the mesa let you take in the beauty of the ponderosa forest. See if you can find the site featured in the camping photo. It's a gem! Most of the camping is located at the northern end of the trail.

One of several major arroyos in the Quebradas area, Arroyo de Los Pinos runs alongside the first six miles of the west end of the Quebradas Backcountry Byway near Socorro, NM. There are many trails along the Byway, which divides the 6,000-acre Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area from west to east, providing offroad driving challenges for all experience levels and offroad vehicle capabilities. Upper Arroyo de Los Pinos is most notable for its increased technical difficulty in driving as compared to some of the other trails in the area. Moving through the arroyo is nonetheless scenic, as bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone are all exposed in fascinating geological features. The Quebradas are located between two major protected wildlife areas, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge to the north and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to the south.

Running through the Cibola National Forest from I-40 to the historic hamlet of McGaffey, Six Mile Canyon passes sandstone bluffs, colorful bentonite hills, and a couple of surprise ponds. Most of the easy trail is in a forest of Ponderosa pines, junipers, and oaks. There are several dispersed campsites near the southern end of the trail.

The Edge Canyon Trail starts off from the Quebradas Backcountry Byway near Socorro, NM, where it meets one of several major arroyos in the Quebradas area, Arroyo de Los Pinos. With options in degrees of difficulty along the way, this trail provides challenges for any level of driver but no need to worry - the extreme sections can be bypassed. A rarity in this desert area, many old trees exist at the end of the trail providing a beautiful place to enjoy the beauty of the area. The Quebradas Backcountry Byway bisects the 6,000-acre Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area. The lands here provide many recreational opportunities including offroad driving challenges for all experience levels and vehicle capabilities.

Godzilla is one of the newest rock crawling trails in the Caballo Reservoir area, and it is set as a level 8 for the 2024 Chile Challenge annual offroad event. This is an extremely rugged and technical trail. 37" or larger tire size, modified suspension, front and rear lockers, winch, and recovery gear are all recommended. There are optional 10+ level obstacles, and the possibility of breakage and body damage throughout the trail is genuine.