Riding your OHV in southwestern New Mexico is an adventurer’s paradise. Make Silver City your home plate and drive in almost any direction to find hundreds of miles of roads to ride!
OHV Adventures North of Silver City
Outer Loop – Forest Road 150
Travel through the Gila National Forest and journey through the historic path through the wildernesses of the Gila and Aldo Leopold. Forest Road 150 can be taken from the Mimbres Valley and travel on FR 150, which is known as North Star Road, then onto Black Canyon and to Beaverhead. From Beaverhead, numerous roads are available. A loop can be made if in a vehicle as the road eventually comes out at Mogollon and then there is the drive back to Silver City on US Hwy 180.
On a side-by-side, it is recommended to ride in on FR150 from the Mimbres, where riders can explore the beautiful canyons, flat lands, pine covered mountains. Once reaching Beaverhead, the journey opens to many trails and one can enjoy much wildlife such as elk.
Depending on how many side adventures are desired, this outing can easily take a full day and several days can be spent in this region exploring on an OHV. Different levels of driving are available, but most are easy tracks. If planning to run many roads, extra fuel is recommended to be carried.
McKnight Canyon
Enjoy this excellent ride from the Mimbres Valley, off of Hwy 35, up to McKnight Cabin just over 17 miles from the highway. This historic cabin has survived two major fires in the region. Many trips road users see black bear and deer. There are many flowers and aspen trees making their comeback since the fires.The elevation at the cabin is 9,242 feet and there are many spectacular views along the drive.
Skates Canyon
Adventure west off the Mimbres HWY 35, to run fast roads, difficult climbs, navigate narrow ridges, and runs through Poderosas and grassy meadows. The Skates Canyon area, which crosses Sapillo Creek, which is usually dry, has many OHV roads that are heavily used. Riders often venture further north to Lake Roberts.
OHV Adventures Northwest of Silver City
Copper Canyon
In addition to riding from Mogollon as mentioned as part of the FR150 ride above, this excellent ride is sure not to disappoint. It is worth the vehicle drive to start your OHV adventure to Claremont Historical Site, then up Copper Creek, to Bearwallow, to the Bearwallow lookout. To fill out your day, ride over to Snow Lake or through the Beaverhead area.
There are a couple of historic mining cabins along the route (Old Waterman Place), sometimes some challenging driving when the road narrows and climbs out of Copper Creek. Bring a chainsaw as sometimes riders encounter down trees.
See wildlife such as turkey, deer, and bear. Ride begins on C010, onto Deep Creek Ranch Road 4056Z, merging into Copper Creek Road FR119, then onto Bearwallow Creek Road 153S and 119A. At the top of Bearwallow Mountain, the ride will present an amazing view at 9,947 ft. in 360 degrees of the Gila.
OHV Adventures South of Silver City
Cooks Peak – Fort Cummings
Head south from Silver City on Hwy 180 to Deming -> Hatch Hwy 26 -> exit north to County Road A019 (BLM & State Land). Travel north further on CO A019 and the road turns into Camino De Las Remedios Cookes Town Road and leads to the ghost town of Cooke’s where a very few structures and sites remain. From there venture up toward Cooke’s Peak itself on a narrow, winding mining road. Pass by old mine sites and travel along the Cook’s Range Wilderness Study area.
Burros – Gold Gulch Road
With dozens of options of roads, some well traveled, some not so traveled, this region is certainly a destination for all types of OHV users. From sandy washes, to narrow canyons, sandy draws, to rocky peaks, the road system south of Silver City is well developed. Within 30 minutes, riding on roads such as Gold Gulch or heading up to Jack’s Peak at an elevation of 7,986 ft, are all exciting journeys. Area has petroglyphs, Native American pit houses, old mine sites, wildlife, mixed types of trees, and vegetation. Many day rides can be created east or west of Hwy 90 south of Silver City.
OHV Adventures West of Silver City
Mogollon Box Canyon
Provides road access to the Gila River region, north of Cliff, NM. From Hwy 180, at Cliff, NM, take Hwy 293 to Box Canyon Road 4259. Enjoy a great picnic area near the river.
Saddle Rock
This amazing place to ride an OHV has dozens of roads in sandy creeks and over rocky roads, all types of trees, and scenic views. Often see javelina, turkey, muledeer, whitetail, and other wildlife. This is known as a key destination for all kinds of OHV users. There is no lack of adventure and different skill level roads in this region. An entire day can easily be filled by riding different trails.
SAFETY & RULES
New Mexico has requirements for off-highway motor vehicles (OHVs) designed to protect the safety of all OHV users and ensure responsible and sensitive OHV use. The law requires all OHV users to register or acquire a permit for their OHV if it is used on public land. Learn more at ridenm.org