Red River is a hub for off-road adventure, with trails and rental services that cater to every skill level—from scenic forest roads to rugged alpine climbs. Here's a roundup of top off-roading opportunities in and around Red River:
Last updated: Friday, October 16, 2026
🛻 Off-Road Tours & Rentals
- Red River Offroad: Guided open-air Jeep tours into the mountains — abandoned mines, ghost towns, mountain lakes and streams, with storytelling along the way. Great for families and first-timers. Location: 500A E Main St.
- Enchanted Offroad: ROV/UTV rentals seating 4 to 6 passengers — half-day, full-day and multi-day — with detailed trail maps and route advice. Location: 100 High Cost Trl.
- Bobcat Pass Wilderness Adventures: Family-run outfitter at the top of Bobcat Pass: guided UTV tours (2-hour, 4-hour and all-day), unguided rentals, and snowmobile tours in winter. Location: 1670 NM-38.
- Weezie's Wild Rides: Certified Polaris Adventures outfitter: current-year RZR, General and Ranger rentals and guided trips in Red River and Angel Fire. Location: 718 E Main St.
- Red River Mountain Adventures: Drive-yourself Jeep and Can-Am OHV rentals by the half or full day, with local trail advice for the backcountry. Location: 800 E Main St A.
- New Mexico Adventure Co.: Three-hour guided mountain tours to Greenie Peak, Goose Lake, Cabresto Lake or the Old Pass, plus self-guided UTV rentals seating 2, 4 or 6. Location: 220 E Main St (Bighorn Sports & Rentals).
- Red River Sled Shed: Guided snowmobile tours in Carson National Forest since 1986 — Red River's longest-running snowmobile outfit, with a full-service sled shop. Location: 612 W Main St.
- Red River Backcountry Adventures: Guided snowmobile tours based at Mallette Park in winter. Location: Mallette Park.
🗺️ Trails & Routes
- Goose Lake Trail — Forest Road 486: Very difficult. The classic climb: 8 miles from about 8,750 feet to the alpine lake above 11,500 feet — trout fishing at the top, and a chance to spot bighorn sheep and marmots. Trailer parking along the NM-578 shoulder. Location: NM-578, Upper Red River Valley.
- Greenie Peak Trail System — Forest Road 597: Moderate to difficult. Forest Road 597 connects to the Trail 54 system for the climb to Greenie Peak (11,221 feet) — the highest peak in New Mexico you can reach by motor vehicle. Location: Mallette Canyon Road, past Mallette Park.
- Old Red River Pass — Forest Road 488: Difficult. Steep, narrow switchbacks on the original 1915–16 road into Red River, climbing from 8,750 to 9,852 feet, with views over the Upper Valley to Wheeler Peak and Gold Hill. Location: NM-578, Upper Red River Valley.
- Pioneer Canyon — Forest Road 485: Moderate. A 6-mile round trip along Pioneer Creek from 8,665 to 10,200 feet on a late-1800s miners' road, passing gold and silver mine remnants worked until 1931. Location: Pioneer Road, by the Arrowhead Lodge.
- Cabresto Canyon — Forest Road 134: Easy. Sixteen miles along Cabresto Creek, with access to Greenie Peak and Midnight Meadows, an old Spanish mine, the ghost gold camp of Midnight, and trout fishing in the creek. Location: Off NM-38 in Questa.
- Cabresto Lake — Forest Road 134A: Easy. Two miles climbing from 8,400 feet to the 15-acre lake at 9,500 feet — one of New Mexico's few brook trout lakes, and the start of the 4-mile hike to Heart Lake. Location: Off Cabresto Canyon Road, near Questa.
- 4th of July Canyon — Forest Road 490: Very difficult. A narrow, rugged 3.4-mile technical trail climbing to 10,200 feet, for smaller OHVs and motorcycles only — no Jeeps or full-size vehicles — and experienced riders only. Confirm your vehicle class on the current MVUM before you go. Location: NM-578, Upper Red River Valley.
- Mallette Canyon Staging Area: Large parking and staging area for the Greenie Peak trail system. Trailer parking is also available in the municipal lot next to Brandenburg Park — but not at Mallette Park itself. Location: Mallette Canyon Road, 1/4 mile past Mallette Park.
📋 Rules, Permits & Maps
- Trail flyer: The town's 4WD, OHV & Motorcycle Trails flyer (PDF) lists each route's difficulty, access points and trailer parking.
- Stay on designated routes: The Questa Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is the official map for motorized travel in Carson National Forest — get it free from the Forest Service before you ride.
- Registration & permits: Every OHV used on public land must be registered or permitted and have a Forest Service-approved spark arrester. New Mexico residents register with the MVD; nonresidents with valid home-state registration are recognized — everyone else needs a New Mexico nonresident permit (90-day or two-year). Full rules at RideNM.
- Riders under 18: Must wear a DOT- or ECE-approved helmet and eye protection, carry an OHV safety permit, and never carry passengers; children under 6 may not operate an ATV or ROV on public land.
- Paved roads: Off-limits to OHVs unless locally authorized with a state paved-road permit or a street-legal plate — trailer to the trailhead instead.
- Motorcycles only: the Pioneer Motorcycle Loop (Trail 171) and Elephant Rock Motorcycle Loop (Trail 195) are very difficult single-track; Elephant Rock closes each year from May 1 to June 15 for elk calving.
- Seasons: Snow closes the high routes to wheeled vehicles in winter — check current conditions and closures with the Questa Ranger District, and tread lightly: cross streams only at fords and pack out what you pack in.