Farmington offers innumerable trails and diverse landscapes perfect for a variety of motorized activities year-round. Local off-roading enthusiasts and others from across the U.S. have enjoyed off-roading in and near Farmington for more than 40 years. Thousands of acres of public land offers riders sandy arroyos, large sand dunes, steep hills, miles of trails, and challenging slick rock for rock crawling. From the nationally rated Chokecherry Canyon to Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area and Head Canyon, Farmington offers experienced and newbie riders a sweet taste of the 4x4 life! Don't forget to explore our calendar of events for group trail rides, the World Extreme Rock Crawling Nationals (WE Rock), 4x4 Week, and motocross events.
Please contact us or visit our Travel Advisory section for current updates on closures and restrictions due to COVID-19.
In an effort to grant easy access to the phenomenal off roading and rock crawling trails in Farmington, City Ordinance 2016-1286 was adopted in 2016 authorizing some off-highway recreational vehicles to be operated on city streets. The ordinance permits side by side off road recreation vehicles (with a steering wheel, roll cage, and seat belts) on most streets in Farmington. ROVs are not permitted on Highways, this includes Main Street, Broadway, and La Plata Highway. At this time, ATVs are not permitted. The maximum speed allowed for an ROV is 45 MPH, or the posted speed, whichever is lower.
To make your ROV street legal, owners must be a licensed driver in good standing and insure and register their ROV. Drivers under the age of 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet and eye protection. ROVs must be equipped with: illuminated speedometer, horn, muffler, headlights, break-lights, blinkers, side mirrors.
Farmington Off Roading Trails and Trail Maps
UTV, Jeep, equestrian, and mountain bike trails throughout Farmington are currently being marked and developed. Do not let the absence of a printed map postpone your visit. As these projects are completed a variety of maps are updated to reflect the trail development. These trails have been shaped and loved by locals for more than 45 years, finding someone to share insider tips is not hard. For mountain bike trail information contact 505 Cycles (4301 E. Main Street, Farmington) at 505-278-8900. The following resources provide accurate and updated trail maps:
- Chokecherry Crawlers, a local off roading club, offers a nice online Interactive Map and Trail Rating of Chokecherry Canyon.
- BLM manages a map of the Glade Run Recreation Area on the Avenza Maps App. Avenza uses GPS technology to pinpoint your location in live time. It also has all the trails color-coded so you can check the trail designation. The app can be found on both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay for iOS and Android devices.
- BLM also maintains a Trail Use Designation Map of the Glade Run Recreation Area.
Brown Springs OHV Recreation Area and Campground
Glade Run Recreation Area, County Rd. 1980 (Glade Road), Farmington, NM
505-564-7600
The campground is closed at this time. Visit BLM NM COVID for updates on closures and restrictions.
This is a newly developed campground and OHV park within the popular Glade Run Recreation Area. Opened in May of 2019, this recreation park features a small riding track for young people, a skills training track, ten developed campsites, toilets, and a pavilion.
Chokecherry Canyon Glade Run Recreation Area
Pinon Hills Blvd. and Glade Road, Farmington, NM
505-564-7600
Glade Run Recreation Area, also known as the Glade, consists of 19,000 acres of open public land along the north and northwest side of Farmington. At an elevation of 5,669 feet, this popular recreation area consists of sandy arroyos, slick rock, rolling foothills, and mountain trails. The Glade offers motorcycle, mountain bike, ATV/UTV, Jeeps and equestrian trails. The area is open year-round, dry overnight camping is permitted.
Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area
Highway 371, Farmington, NM
505-564-7600
Over 800 acres of fun is waiting for off-road enthusiasts at the Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area. Located just 1.5 miles south of Farmington, this OHV area has been created by 40+ years of off-road vehicle use.
Head Canyon OHV Recreation Area
NM Highway 371, south of Farmington
505-564-7600
Head Canyon OHV Recreation Area is located just south of Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area. Both are located on the south end of Farmington on Highway 371. Head Canyon is designated primarily for OHV Motorcross racing.
