Driving and OHV Riding
Whether in a SUV or on a dirt bike, ATV or side-by-side, driving your car or riding an off-highway vehicle (OHV) is a great way to experience Carson National Forest. And when you're out, it's important to help preserve the forest and watersheds for everyone to enjoy and benefit from long into the future.
Before you head out, know before you go about where to ride and how to do so safely and legally.
Where to Ride
Most Forest Service roads on the Carson National Forest are "open to all vehicles," meaning non-highway legal vehicles like OHVs are allowed if they are properly registered. To find such roads, download the motor vehicle use map (MVUMs) for the area you plan to ride and check the legend.
Visual Guide for Reading the MVUM
Vehicles cannot be driven on roads and areas not listed on MVUMs. This protects habitats and watersheds.
Open to Highway Legal Vehicles
While rare on the Carson National Forest, a solid white line with a solid black border indicates that the road is only open to highway legal vehicles.
Open to All Vehicles
The black and white dashed roads incidate the road is open to highway legal vehicles and OHVs.
Seasonal Designation (Closures)
Shading along a road indicates there is a seasonal designation, or closure. Check the Seasonal Designations table for when the road is open.
Always check the Alerts page for out-of-season closures due to unplanned closures and issues (e.g. wildfires, flooding, road construction, etc.).
Dispersed Camping/Big Game Retrieval
Dots on either side of the road indicate vehicles can leave the roadway up to the specified distance (usually 150 or 300 feet) found in the Dispersed Camping/Big Game Retrieval table.
Special Vehicle Designation
Dashed roadway borders indicate only certain vehicles are allowed on the roadway. On the Carson National Forest, this is for motorized trails where only shorter width vehicles are allowed: Motorcyles, ATVs and e-bikes.
Motorcycles Only
Dotted lines indicate motorized trails where only motorcycles are allowed.
Stay on Designated Roads, Protect Forest Health
An illegal off-road route across the headwaters of El Rito Creek.
Riding off designated roads can damage habitat and watersheds by:
- Reducing ground cover: As vehicle use strips away vegetation, top soil erodes and the exposed layer become compacted by further vehicle use and, suprisingly, the force of rain.
- Compacting soil: Once soil is compacted, it does not effectively soak up the water, a process called infiltration. This creates runoff, sending water immediately downstream instead of being soaked up and slowly released into the watershed over time, which is critical for downstream agricultural uses throughout the growing season.
- Channelizing flow: Water in meadows should flow over wide areas, but vehicle damage can change the structure of the ground in a way that it channelizes into one spot over time. Like with compaction, this takes away from the slow release of water over time, increases water temperature (which affects fish and other wildlife) and makes the system more prone to flash flooding locally and downstream.
Follow These Laws
Both federal and state laws apply when riding on national forest land. Following them keeps you safe and protects forest and watershed health.
The following is a select list of vehicle-related prohibited acts on all national forests year-round, including Carson National Forest:
| Prohibition | Law |
|---|---|
| Damaging and leaving in a damaged condition any such road, trail, or segment thereof. | 36 C.F.R. 261.12(c) |
| Blocking, restricting, or otherwise interfering with the use of a road, trail, or gate. | 36 C.F.R. 261.12(d) |
| Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or a controlled substance in violation of State law. | 36 C.F.R. 261.12(f) |
| Operating a vehicle or motor vehicle carelessly, recklessly, or in a manner or at a speed that would endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. | 36 C.F.R. 261.12(h) |
| Violating provisions on a Motor Vehicle Use Map. | 36 C.F.R. 261.13 |
| Creating excessive or unusual smoke. | 36 C.F.R. 261.15(f) |
| Operating any vehicle in a manner which damages or unreasonably disturbs the land, wildlife, or vegetative resources. | 36 C.F.R. 261.15(h) |
| Operating any vehicle in violation of State law established for vehicles used off roads. | 36 C.F.R. 261.15(i) |
| Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order in accordance with U.S. Forest Service Standard 5100-1d. | 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(j) |
Use or occupancy of National Forest System land or facilities without special-use authorization when such authorization is required.
| 36 C.F.R. 261.10(k) |
All permanent prohibitions regarding national forests can be found in the Federal Code of Regulations, Title 36, Chapter II, Part 261. Regional and Forest Orders are available the forest's Alert webpage.
The following is a select list of OHV-related prohibited acts in the State of New Mexico, including on Carson National Forest.
| Prohibition | N.M. Statute |
|---|---|
| Failure to posess registration or nonresident permit | 66-3-1010.3.A.8 |
| Operating > 10 mph within 200 ft. of business, animal shelter, horseback rider, bicyclist, pedestrian, livestock, or occupied dwelling. | 66-3-1010.3.A.7 |
| Operating OHV > 96 decibels | 66-3-1010.3.A.11 |
| Person < 18 years of age operating OHV not wearing eye protection and safety helmet. | 66-3-1010.3.B.1 |
| Person < 18 years of age operating OHV while carrying a passenger. | 66-3-1010.3.B.3 |
| Person >/=10 and < 15 years of age operating OHV in violation of supervision requirements of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act. | 66-3-1010.3.C |
| Person <10 years of age operating ATV or ROV that is not an age-approproatie size-fit or who operates an OHV in violation of supervision requirements of this section. | 66-3-1010.3.D.1 |
Go to RideNM for more laws and information from the State of New Mexico.