Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Santa Fe, New Mexico
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Close to the Southern Edge
This is a short side road off of Caja Del Rio Road USFS 24, which takes you to a Southern escarpment of the plateau overlooking the Santa Fe River basin below. There are a few… Learn more about Close to the Southern Edge
Total Miles
1.4
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
Hang Glider Road
Hang Glider road is a short side road near the end of Caja del Rio Road USFS 24. There is nothing special about this trail until you reach the end with spectacular views to the… Learn more about Hang Glider Road
Total Miles
0.3
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
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
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
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
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
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
St. Peters Dome Wilderness Exploration Route
This is one of the more varied trails in New Mexico in terms of scenery and topography. Starting in the Jemez mountains with large pine forests, this trail transitions to mesa prairie, and then dives… Learn more about St. Peters Dome Wilderness Exploration Route
Total Miles
18.2
Tech Rating
2
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
Palo Duroso Canyon
Despite appearing on most maps as NM state road 165, Palo Duroso Canyon is an unimproved dirt road from the time it leaves Placitas until until it meets 536 going to Sandia Crest. This road… Learn more about Palo Duroso Canyon
Total Miles
7.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Forest Loop Road 445
Forest Loop Road 445 leads from NM Highway 165 to the northern base of the Sandia Mountains and back to NM 165. The western side of the loop is more difficult with some washouts, arroyos… Learn more about Forest Loop Road 445
Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Sp / Su / Fa
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
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
Encino Mountain Trail
This trail takes you up into the Santa Fe National Forest. This is an easy trail for most with AWD or 4WD. Make sure you have gas as this is a vast mountain range where… Learn more about Encino Mountain Trail
Total Miles
14.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Coyote Mesa Trail
Coyote Mesa Trail is listed on MUVM maps as FR462. Its starts just south of Tijeras in Chamisos Canyon, and crosses the mesa north of Cedro Peak ending near the Zuzax area. This trail offers… Learn more about Coyote Mesa Trail
Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Cedro Peak Loop via FR 542
Cedro peak is one of the best sets of 4x4 trails near Albuquerque. This route goes up to the peak using the more primitive FR 542 route, and then returns on the wide gravel roads… Learn more about Cedro Peak Loop via FR 542
Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
El Cerrito Area of Santa Fe National Forest
Open mesa plains with a web-like network of dirt roads with the occasional rocky obstacle and/or ledge. The general area is wide-open with scenic views of surrounding mesas. If you navigate deep enough into this… Learn more about El Cerrito Area of Santa Fe National Forest
Total Miles
32.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
FS376
FS376 is a 23-mile long trail that weaves through the Jemez National Forest, gaining about 3,200 feet in elevation high above the Rio Guadalupe. This route takes you through the historic Gilman Tunnels, which were… Learn more about FS376