Where to Ride in New Mexico

[trailwerks]

New Mexico has lots of places to ride on federally managed land. Until recently, OHV-use in NM was largely un-managed by both the BLM and FS. That has changed. The Forest Services Travel Management Rule implementation will more formally identify trail systems on the five National Forests in New Mexico. To date, the Lincoln National Forest is the only Forest to have issued Motor Vehcile Use Maps (MVUM's) for the entire Forest. The Cibola National Forest has also issued an MVUM for one Ranger District and one National Grassland:

Cibola National Forest - Sandia Ranger District: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/tm_sandia/mvum/sandia_mvum_0509.pdf
Cibola National Forest - Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/tm_black_kettle/bk_mvum_web_map.pdf
Lincoln National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/projects/TMR/maps.shtml

Until the other Motor Vehicle Use Maps are issued, here are links to the roads/trails systems within the National Forests:

Carson National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson/recreation/travel_mgmt/maps_existing_roads.shtml
Cibola National Forest-Mountainair Ranger District: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/tm_mt_air/index.shtml
Cibola National Forest-Mt. Taylor Ranger Dsitrict: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/tm_mt_taylor/index.shtml
(The Magdalena District of the Cibola has not issued maps yet)
Gila National Forest: http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_RU6?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5035780&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&ss=110306&position=Not%20Yet%20Determined.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Gila%20National%20Forest-%20Home
Santa Fe National Forest:http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/pdfs.htm

The BLM has also started to more actively manage OHV travel on the lands they manage. Here are links to some of the more popular developed and semi-developed riding areas on BLM managed land within the seven management areas in New Mexico:

The Glade - Farmington: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/farmington/Glade_Run_Recreation_Area.html
The Dunes - Farmington: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/farmington/Dunes_OHV_Area.html
Hackberry Lake - Carlsbad: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/carlsbad/Hackberry.html
Robledo Mountains - Las Cruces: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/robledo_mtns_ohv.html
Haystack Mountain - Roswell: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/roswell/haystack_mountain.html
Mesacalero Sands - Roswell: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/roswell/mescalero_sands.html
San Ysidro Trials Area - Rio Ruerco: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/san_ysidro_trials_area.html
Gordy's Hill - Socorro: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/socorro/gordys_hill.html

For the most part, OHV travel on BLM managed lands is limited to existing roads and trails. For specific information on OHV travel regulations on other BLM-managed lands, please contact the appropriate field office.
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en.html

Have fun and be safe!