Permit status not confirmed. Check with the managing agency.
Ride at your own risk. This is open public land, not a managed park, so terrain changes without warning and hazards are not marked.
Guide
About this area
The Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Use Area offers over 55,000 acres of rolling stabilized dune lands and cliffs for intensive use of motorcycles, sand dune buggies and other OHVs.
Full agency description
The Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Use Area offers over 55,000 acres of rolling stabilized dune lands and cliffs. The area is open for intensive use of motorcycles, sand dune buggies and other OHVs. Trails within the area take advantage of a variety of soils and topographic features, which include many turns and steep hill climbs. Routes go from shallow rocky, loamy soil on low hills to deep alluvial soils with sandy inclusions. The trails travel across small draws and along the bottom of deep arroyos. The area also includes a sand dune complex. The area is used by the Desert Rough Riders Club for an annual competitive motorcycle event -- the Carlsbad 100 Desert Race -- which traverses more than 44 miles of public land. For more information on this event please visit The New Mexico Desert Racing Club at www.nmdrc.com.
At a glance
Quick facts
Camping limit
7 Days
Managing agency
Bureau of Land Management
Access
Getting there
CR 222 / Shugart Road trailhead — the main parking areaEntrance
Follow US 62/180, turn NORTH on SR 360 and travel about 5.7 miles, then turn EAST on CR 222 / Shugart Road. Follow CR 222 for 1.8 miles. The trailhead is north of CR 222 and visible from the road.
BLM state the area "can be accessed at a number of locations". The CR 222 / Shugart Road trailhead above is the most commonly used parking area and the one to aim for if it is your first visit.
Specific to Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle Use Area
🪖 Under 18 must wear a DOT or ECE approved helmet and eye protection, and hold an OHV safety permit. Under-18 riders must be visually supervised by an adult unless they hold a valid driver license, and may not carry a passenger.
Non-residents without home-state registration need a New Mexico permit. It costs $48 for two years or $18 for 90 days.
Common equipment, registration and trail-use rules still apply.
Ride to the highest safety standard, not the legal minimum. A helmet, eye protection, a flag and proper gear are what get you home.
🗺️ No signal? Take an offline map. Download the free georeferenced PDF map for this area before you leave tarmac: www.blm.gov
Permits
Permits & registration
Permit and registration details
No fees are required.
State residents
New Mexico residents must have their OHV registered with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and display the registration decal.
Out-of-state riders
Out-of-state riders need a New Mexico non-resident permit before riding on any public land in New Mexico. We accept proof of a valid OHV registration from your home state, otherwise it is $48 for a 2-year permit or $18 for 90 days.
Area information is informational only and may be inaccurate or out of date. Verify access, weather, closures, permits and hazards before and during any trip. See Terms.
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