Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Chamisal, New Mexico
Borregoanger Cabin Cutoff
Borregoanger cabin is a foundation deep in the National Forest next to an unusual quartz and granite promontory. The trail to reach the cabin leaves from the Borrego Mesa Trail and climbs down switchbacks into… Learn more about Borregoanger Cabin Cutoff
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Borrego Mesa Trail
Beginning in the New Mexico town of Cordova, this trail climbs into the foothills of the Sangre De Christo Mountains. While the Borrego Mesa trail itself is relatively easy, it provides access to several other… Learn more about Borrego Mesa Trail
Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Pecos WIlderness Border Road
This route runs through the open highlands of Borrego Mesa, providing expansive views of the surrounding foothills. This section is not maintained and is prone to significant washouts and ruts. In dry conditions, the primary… Learn more about Pecos WIlderness Border Road
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Santa Cruz Lake Overlook Campground
This road leads to the overlook campground then dead ends at the trailhead located above Santa Cruz Lake on a high escarpment, overlooking the lake from the southern end. Owned and operated by the BLM… Learn more about Santa Cruz Lake Overlook Campground
Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Forest Road 722
This is an in-and-back leading through Carson National Forest. Winding through and cresting at nearly 10,000 feet this is an easy cruise with some awesome scenery. Minimal traffic in the area but there is woodcutting… Learn more about Forest Road 722
Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Taos Valley Road 5030 North
If quiet and solitude are what you're looking for, you've found the right trail. This is one of the most remote section of trail in the San Luis Valley. Stunning scenery of the vast Rio… Learn more about Taos Valley Road 5030 North
Total Miles
49.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Clara Peak
Clara Peak a relatively relaxed drive starting through the plains of the lower BLM land east of Espanola before starting to climb in the Santa Fe National Forest. 31 mile road which lasts the majority… Learn more about Clara Peak
Total Miles
15.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Jemez to Espanola
This is a very scenic route around the North side of the Valles Caldera. It goes from the Jemez Mountains over to Espanola and is a great full-day loop with plenty of exploring to be… Learn more about Jemez to Espanola
Total Miles
57.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Pacheco Canyon
Pacheco Canyon is a great easy trail near the Santa Fe Ski area, just outside Santa Fe, NM. The trail can be run in either direction, but the views heading downhill into Tesuque Village are… Learn more about Pacheco Canyon
Total Miles
7.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Dunn Bridge and Rio Grande Del Norte Loop
The Southern portion of the trail is easy for even for passenger cars. It features the stunning Dunn iron bridge with pit toilets available. Take a short side trip down either side of the bridge… Learn more about Dunn Bridge and Rio Grande Del Norte Loop
Total Miles
10
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa
Osha Pass/70b
This route is the main forest road that provides access to the 70 Moto Trail, which is a width-restricted motorized trail that climbs to Osha Pass. This trail also provides access to the Elliot Barker… Learn more about Osha Pass/70b
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Elk Mountain
The Elk Mountain Trail is an out-and-back at Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. It is an easy and very scenic ride to the peak at 11.6k feet, where the views are incredible. Towards… Learn more about Elk Mountain
Total Miles
13.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Apache Trail
This trail is an offshoot of Forest Road 70/Osha Pass trail. It leaves the main trail and tracks along the boundary of public and private land for a short while before climbing the mountainside and… Learn more about Apache Trail
Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
Ute Canyon
A nice in-and-back trail on forestry service roads through the Santa Fe National Forest near Ledoux, NM and Morphy Lake State Park. This is a woodcutting area so there can be the occasional traffic, but… Learn more about Ute Canyon
Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
La Junta Canyon
A well-maintained forest road that is gated as it approaches the Taos Pueblo. It provides access to a woodcutting area as well as logging operations in the national forest. There are appx 4-5 dispersed camping… Learn more about La Junta Canyon
Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
Cebolla Mesa
When the sign at the trail entrance states, "Not suitable for passenger cars", they aren't joking. This is a heavily unmaintained trail and is not recommended for anything with low clearance. Deep mud ruts are… Learn more about Cebolla Mesa
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
La Jara Canyon
This trail is a well-maintained forest road that leads from US 64 to some logging trails along the border of the Taos Pueblo. The road is closed near the logging trails as its condition deteriorates… Learn more about La Jara Canyon
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Dalton Canyon
This trail is one of the more accessible routes into the Pecos Mountains. Navigable by most cross-overs, this trail is a local favorite for camping and riding. The trail is mostly well-maintained gravel, with some… Learn more about Dalton Canyon
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Glorieta Baldy
Glorieta Baldy is a trail on the South end of the Pecos Mountain area featuring numerous camp sites and an expansive view of the Pecos/Glorieta area. The trail starts at the back of a neighborhood… Learn more about Glorieta Baldy
Total Miles
14.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Arroyo Hondo Forest Service 79
Forest Service road that climbs a wide loose and rutted road. There are many shallow ruts and a few deep ruts that must be navigated around if clearance is an issue. There is a very… Learn more about Arroyo Hondo Forest Service 79
Total Miles
4.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa
El Camino Real y Diablo Canyon Trail
The El Camino Trail road will take you to Diablo Canyon and to the Rio Grande River. It is almost an extension of the Camino la Tierra road off of Hwy 599. It changes in… Learn more about El Camino Real y Diablo Canyon Trail
Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Upper Diablo Canyon Rd
This short road is somewhat deceiving as it appears to take you to a water pump station and nothing more. At the very end of the road is a single spot for dry primitive camping… Learn more about Upper Diablo Canyon Rd
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
County Road A19A to Hermits Peak
This is a county road with beautiful scenery that runs along a creek and passes through small villages. It leads up to the National Forrest and a mountain peak with amazing views. On this trail,… Learn more about County Road A19A to Hermits Peak
Total Miles
18.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Dead Dog Trail & Santa Fe Ranch
This road off of the Camino Real Road is an easy drive, except for a dip with soft sand early on crossing Alamo Creek. There are a couple of mud puddles that had bypasses. For… Learn more about Dead Dog Trail & Santa Fe Ranch
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Molino Meadows
This is an easy trail across some open meadows on NM State Land. Unfortunately, despite maps of the trail showing National Forest access, the trail currently dead ends at a gate preventing access to FSR… Learn more about Molino Meadows
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
BLM-SFNF Connector & Camping
This short unnamed road is part of the Caja del Rio area of the Santa Fe National Forest. It provides access to the large BLM area with Diablo Canyon and the Camino Real trail adjoining… Learn more about BLM-SFNF Connector & Camping
Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Caja del Rio to La Bajada Mesa-USFS 24
The Caja del Rio Road (#24) is a 23-mile drive across the Caja del Rio Plateau to La Bajada Mesa. It ends with a large escarpment dropping 1000 feet to the valley below with the… Learn more about Caja del Rio to La Bajada Mesa-USFS 24
Total Miles
20.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Pioneer Creek
Pioneer Creek Trail leaves from Red River behind the ski resort and then follows the canyon up. There are some large loose rocks towards the end and four water crossings where the trail crosses the… Learn more about Pioneer Creek
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Greenie East
This trail starts up Marlette Canyon before splitting off from Sawmill Trail. It then splits again from the most direct and well marked route to the peak, dropping back down into a drainage, before climbing… Learn more about Greenie East
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
San Antonio Mountain Loop
This is an easy route around the base of the San Antonio Mountain. The ride was pretty with grand vistas, an easy trail, and some wildlife. Not recommended for passenger cars, no winter maintenance. That… Learn more about San Antonio Mountain Loop