ATV, OHV, 4-Wheel Drive and Motorcycle
Play Areas
When the need for exploring backwood
trails and wide-open dunes gets in your blood, and outdoor recreation
is your sport of choice, then consider the freedom of exploring
rural New Mexico from an off-highway vehicle (OHV).
When people think of OHV's, differing
connotations come to mind - ATV's, 4-wheelers, Jeep's, SUV's
, dirt bikes, etc. Whatever you drive, there is a place for you
to go without getting run off!
In New Mexico there are 13 million
acres of public land administered by seven Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) field offices. Executive Order 11644, issued in 1972, designated
areas and trails on which OHV's may or may not be permitted.
Most BLM-managed public land in New Mexico has been designated
through respective land-use plans as follows:
Open: Areas available for all vehicular travel including
cross-country driving. Designation covers approximately 33 per
cent of New Mexico’s BLM-managed public land;
Limited: Areas available for use on designated or existing
roads and trails; cross-country vehicle travel is prohibited.
Designation covers 65 per cent of New Mexico’s BLM-managed
public land;
Closed: Areas unavailable for vehicular travel; applies
to 2 per cent of New Mexico’s BLM-managed public land. Typical
closures are wilderness study areas or other specially managed
areas due to various resource values or hazards. Most New Mexico
BLM designations are in the limited category.
Some OHV enthusiasts assume certain
aspects about public land use. One of the top assumptions during
hunting season is that OHV's are a tool of the hunt, and thus
retrieve game cross-country without regard to public land OHV
designations. Prior to an OHV trip on public lands, contact
the appropriate BLM offices and inquire as to what specific
or dedicated OHV areas they have in addition to their respective
extensive public lands.
To assist the public in understanding
the BLM’s backcountry use ethics or guidelines, there are
two excellent organizations with Web sites: www.treadlightly.org,
which focuses on the ethical use of motorized and mechanized
vehicles on both land and water; and www.lnt.org,
the Leave No Trace-Center for Outdoor Ethics Web site, oriented
to non-mechanized use.
REMEMBER: New Mexico
statute 66-3-1010.3
Operation and equipment; safety requirements says:
- SOCORRO FIELD OFFICE
198 Neel Ave. NW
Socorro, NM 87801
(505) 835-0412
Recreation Planners: (505) 838-1278
www.nm.blm.gov/recreation/socorro/socorro_rec_home.htm
- 1. Gordy’s Hill OHV
Area
About 6,000 acres of highly scenic dirt bike and ATV destination
overlooking the Rio Grande Valley and Bosque, with tremendous
variety of riding challenges. Deeply dissected canyons, high
sandstone and limestone bluffs, terraces and escarpments. Excellent
for all experience levels. Primitive location. Offers camping
but no facilities or water.
- 2. Quebradas Backcountry
Byway
Unpaved county road traversing about 24 miles of rugged, colorful
landscapes east of Socorro. Road is passable with a high-clearance
vehicle. Much of the byway includes rolling terrace lands that
rise above the Rio Grande. Open year-round. Use caution when
wet. No access fees, restrooms or drinking water.
- ROSWELL FIELD OFFICE
2909 W. Second
Roswell, NM 88201
(505) 627-0272
www.nm.blm.gov/rfo/index.htm
Recreation Planner (505) 627-0220
- 1. Mescalero Sands
North Dune OHV Area
About 610 acres of dunes, 75 to 100 feet high. Offers the novice
to expert rider a great variety of challenges. Mature cottonwood
galleries in dunes. Open year-round. Six sun shelters, picnic
tables, barbecue grills, RV area and all weather access road
enhance this site. Fees: $3 to $5. Restroom available. No drinking
water.
- 2. Haystack Mountain OHV
Area
More than 3,520 acres, designated for vehicles less than 50 inches
wide and limited to designated trails on rugged sandstone escarpment
(High Lonesome). Very scenic terrain overlooking the Pecos River.
Novices to experts, on bare rocks, hills, deep gullies and sandy
washes. Numerous single-track trails for motorcycles and mountain
bikes. Pay station, restroom, kiosk, four shelters with picnic
tables, grills and trash cans, ATV/dirt bike loading ramp. Open
year-round. Fees: $3 to $5. No drinking water.
- CARLSBAD FIELD OFFICE
620 E. Green St.
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(505) 234-5972
www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/index.htm
- 1. Alkali Lake Intensive
OHV Area
About 900 acres, old motorcross track.
- 2. Hackberry Lake
About 55,800 acres, dune lands with oil and gas development.
- 3. Guadalupe Backcountry
Byway
About 30 miles of byway transitions from Chihuahuan Desert west
of Carlsbad up into pines of the Guadalupe Escarpment. Byway
open year-round. Byway accessible in passenger car; but drive
slowly on the switch backs. No access fees, restrooms or drinking
water.
- FARMINGTON FIELD OFFICE
1235 La Plata Highway
Farmington, NM 87401
(505) 599-8900
www.nm.blm.gov/ffo/ffo_home.html
- 1. Glade Run Recreation
Area
About 19,000 acres of sandy arroyos, slick rock and rolling terrain
with 42 miles of marked trails for motorized and mountain bike
riders. Rock crawling events draw modified four-wheel drive competitors
from all over the country. Open year-round. Winter snows can
hamper use. Discharge of firearms is prohibited in the glade.
No access fees, restrooms or drinking water.
- 2. Dunes Vehicle Recreation
Area
More than 1,000 acres with a wide variety of topography–large
sand dunes, steep to gentle hillsides and sandy arroyo bottoms.
Innumerable roads and trails. Diverse landscape attracts variety
of motorized activity and provides riders a place to play, test
endurance and improve OHV skills. Motorcycle, quad, mountain
bike and four-wheel drive.
- 3. Head Canyon Motorcross
Track
Small track across the road from the dunes. Area may be closed
to the public for short periods during authorized competitions
or events. Active gas wells exist in the Dunes Vehicle Recreation
Area. Watch for traffic and heavy trucks. Special rules in effect.
Pack out trash. Open year-round. No access fees, restrooms or
drinking water.
- LAS CRUCES FIELD OFFICE
1800 Marquess St.
Las Cruces, NM 88005
(505) 525-4300
www.nm.blm.gov/lcfo/lcfo_home.html
Recreation Planner (505) 525-4391
- 1. Robledo OHV Area
7,050 acres adopted by Las Cruces Four-Wheel Drive Club. Limited
use area.
- 2. Aden Hills
Around 8,700 acres. Open area.
- 3. Red Sands
About 37,000 acres are open but the public is encouraged to stay
on the 35 miles of trails.
- 4. Lake Valley Backcountry
Byway
Meandering 48-mile drive on paved roads takes visitors through
spectacular scenery in ranching and mining country and past the
ruins of 1880s mining town of Lake Valley. Open year-round. No
fees, restrooms or drinking water.
- TAOS FIELD OFFICE
226 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, NM 87571
(505) 758-8851
www.nm.blm.gov/tafo/tafo_home.html
Recreation Planners
(505) 751-4730 and 4703
- 1. El Palacio OHV Area
North of Española, 22,000 acres, no facilities. Multiple
use area, with heavy OHV use on designated trails only. Northern
New Mexico Trail Riders have adopted the road at Alcalde, working
on major trash cleanups.
- RIO PUERCO FIELD OFFICE (Albuquerque
area)
435 Montano Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 761-8700
www.nm.blm.gov/aufo/aufo_home.html
Open, closed, limited and seasonal OHV areas.
- NEW MEXICO STATE OFFICE
1474 Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 438-7400
www.nm.blm.gov
New recreation Web site at: www.nm.blm.gov/recreation/recreation_home.htm
Recreation Planners
(505) 438-7436 and 7416
- NEW MEXICO PUBLIC LANDS INFORMATION
CENTER
(505) 438-7542
Toll free (877) 276-9404 or
on-line at www.publiclands.org
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