San Lorenzo Canyon is a series of rock formations and canyons on the southern border of Servilleta Wildlife Refuge. This area features numerous hiking and camping opportunities in a unique landscape not far from Albuquerque.… Learn more about San Lorenzo Canyon
Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
1
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
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
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
South Canyon Rd.
This is a scenic drive starting at Hwy 60 in the high desert. You go through a gate to enter onto BLM land. At the entrance, there is a sign that states "Primitive road not… Learn more about South Canyon Rd.
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
South Baldy Road
This road winds up South Baldy mountain through the Cibola National Forest to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory and Langmuir Laboratory and Atmospheric Research. The road is a well-maintained dirt road for the research facility to… Learn more about South Baldy Road
Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Molino Peak Trail
The Molino Peak Trail is a short, 5.3-mile route that takes you up past an old manganese mine (The Manganese Chief Mine). It winds its way up an old two-track that becomes progressively rockier the… Learn more about Molino Peak Trail
Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Glorieta Peak
This trail ascends a mountain surrounded by the desert to the South-East of Mountainair. When approaching the peak, it will be visible long before you start the trail when approaching from the west. The first… Learn more about Glorieta Peak
Total Miles
15.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa
Backway to Cabezon Peak
This set of well maintained, dirt roads provides access to Cabezon Peak from nearby Pipeline Road. It passes through some typical New Mexican high-desert scenery, with shrubs and cacti on either side of a winding… Learn more about Backway to Cabezon Peak
Total Miles
11.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road
This 4x4 road is a great intro to overlanding, with stunning views and minimal technical obstacles. Starting from Grants, the road climbs almost 5000 feet to within 1/2 mile of Mt. Taylor peak. The road… Learn more about Mt. Taylor Peak 4x4 Road
Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
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
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
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
Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
1
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
Red Cloud Trail
Red cloud trail works its way across the top of the peaks in Gallinas before descending into a forested area. With many dispersed camping opportunities, this is a great area for some more secluded outdoor… Learn more about Red Cloud Trail
Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
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
Cougar Mountain Road
A wide dirt track through the Gallinas district of Cibola National Forest. This route skirts the base of the Gallinas peak and is primarily used as a quick through road from the south side to… Learn more about Cougar Mountain Road
Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp / 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
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
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
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
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
Hole in the Wall at Malpais National Monument
This excellent day trip starts on the western edge of Malpais National Monument, drives by the Big Tubes cave system and then crosses an easy introduction to driving over rock before accessing the "Hole in… Learn more about Hole in the Wall at Malpais National Monument
Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Copper Mine
The Copper Mines are located in the Santa Fe National Forest just east of Cuba, New Mexico. The trail begins from Highway 126 and the intersection of Eureka Mesa Road. Off-highway parking is suggested due… Learn more about Copper Mine
Total Miles
18.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Elk Standoff
The trail is well maintained with a few portions that contain small rock gardens. Towards the end of the trail, there are a number of old, abandoned structures. One appears to have been an old… Learn more about Elk Standoff
Total Miles
25.1
Tech Rating
2
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
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
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