Some of the finest mountain scenery in the southwest is found in the 1.6-million-acre Santa Fe National Forest, and wheeling on Lake Fork Canyon is a great way to enjoy it. Tall ponderosa pines, aspens, scrub oak, and grassy meadows frame a scenic Jemez Mountain trail that is one of New Mexico's outdoor treasures. As the trail starts out at the historic Gilman Tunnels, the Rio Guadalupe runs alongside the east side of the trail and offers trout fishing adjacent to numerous parking turnouts and picnicking sites. As the trail runs through Lake Fork Canyon in the north, the Rio Cebolla runs along its east side. The Jemez Mountains are very important to the Native American people of the Jemez Pueblo. The Walatowa Visitor Center located near Jemez Pueblo on State Highway 4 is a great way to learn about the rich culture of the area.
Located at the northern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Southern Robledo Mountains are home to the 100th active U.S. national monument, the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument, and within that, the Robledo Mountains OHV Trail System. Just four short miles northwest of Las Cruces, this network of trails, including extreme OHV and mountain bike trails, is easy to get to and close to all of the conveniences and services of a modern city. The Presidential Staircase trail is a great warmup along the way to some of the more difficult trails in the system. The scene from the top of this moderate climb is a truly spectacular 360-degree view of the area. The OHV areas are separate from the Monument's sensitive fossilized trackway, and motorized vehicle travel is only permitted on designated trails and roads. Official signage for the trails is well and frequently placed, so it's easy to spot. The Monument includes a major deposit of Paleozoic Era fossilized footprint megatrackways containing footprints of numerous amphibians, reptiles, and insects (including previously unknown species), plants, and petrified wood dating back 280 million years.
The Arroyo de Los Pinos Loop is a quick, scenic departure off of the Quebradas Backcountry Byway that will take you within 100 yards or so of the Ojo de Amado Spring, and it provides access to numerous offroading possibilities in the area with varying degrees of difficulty. Driving from the Quebradas road to the arroyo floor (approximately 300 feet below) provides opportunities to take in beautiful panoramic vistas of the region and surrounding mountain ranges. The Quebradas road crosses several arroyos which drain into the Rio Grande and erosion here has created breathtaking and scenic geological settings such as those in the Arroyo de Los Pinos. As one traverses the trail down into the arroyo, the color of the rock and earth are impossible to miss. The red color of these rocks results from the presence of small amounts of iron in the form of hematite, the same mineral that gives the planet Mars its red hue. Moving through the arroyo, bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone are all exposed. Arroyo de Los Pinos Loop is one of 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 and provides excellent opportunities for offroad driving, offering challenges for all experience levels and your offroad vehicle’s capabilities.
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.
Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route.
Start a 7-day Free TrialBy clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each policy linked to above. You also agree to the storing of cookies on your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site, enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our site is used.