Best Off-Road Experiences in the Southwest

From the food to the culture to the picturesque vistas, the Southwest is a must-visit for anyone, especially those with off-roading in mind.

For those of us trapped in the Midwest and Northeast, the Southwest must seem like a Shangri-La for outdoor activities. Indeed, with mild winter temperatures and extremely varied terrain, it’s a slice of heaven for anyone looking to explore year-round. We’ve covered favorite trails and trail runs on the blog before – traveling from SoCal through Central California, up to NorCal and over to Colorado. Continuing or trek across the country, let’s visit off-road trails and organized events you NEED to see in the Southwest: specifically, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Texas: Rednecks with Paychecks

Off-roading and overlanding can be an obsession and a way of life, but often times when it’s just you, your vehicle, and perhaps one other friend, it can get lonely as hell. There’s no crowd there to shower you with support as you try to make it out of that creek bed, and no courtside hecklers to laugh at you when your winch line snaps during a pull. Some wheelers are thankful for that, but some of us like the energy of a large, raucous crowd. If you’re in the latter, you need to get yourself down to Saint Jo, Texas for a Rednecks with Paychecks event.

Described as a “Hillbilly Burning Man,” Rednecks with Paychecks is a twice-a-year event for those of us who like the simpler things in life—mud, food, and anything with wheels. The “serious” side of RwP holds races in the Pro Mega Truck Series, Engines and Egos Bounty Series, and open ride times for those who want to test their skills. But most attendees look forward to some of the other less-typical events like the Truck Tug-of-War, Bikini Contest, and the absurdly awesome Barbie Jeep Downhill Race.

Held in both March and September each year, the 4 nights of mud and mayhem is something to behold.

Oklahoma: MidAmerica Outdoors

If you’re looking for a full-featured park in the Sooner State, it doesn’t get much better than MidAmerica Outdoors. Nestled toward northeast Oklahoma in the small town of Jay, MidAmerica Outdoors (MAO) is a premier riding, racing, and spectator park sitting on 1,600+ acres. While off-roading isn’t typically thought of as the most family-friendly of activities, MAO features entertainment for all ages.

First and foremost, MAO plays host to some absolutely fantastic races and events. After all, they are the proud owners of the Ultra4 Series—most notably known for the world famous King of the Hammers. In addition to Ultra4, MAO plays host to Vision Off-Road and all new pit bike racing series for 2022. MAO is only open on event weekends, but don’t worry, there are plenty of those.

While it’s fun to watch, sometimes you just want to experience the mud for yourself. In that case, MAO has plenty of wooded, rocky, and dozed roads and trails to crawl over. Smaller vehicles like side-by-sides and ATVs are ideal, but all manner of off-road vehicles are welcome to tackle the expansive selection of terrain. And once you’re in the park, you’re free to ride anywhere designated on the trail map—from the most basic to the most challenging areas.

New Mexico: Red River/Carson National Forest

When you think New Mexico (at least for us East Coast folk), visions of year-round high temperatures and sand as far as the eye can see may be what you picture. Well, that’s not exactly the truth. Our New Mexico selection—Red River—is a bustling ski area during the winter months. As someone who’s been to NM (White Sands is amazing) and someone who was in the ski industry for a large chunk of their life, I had no idea! But forget the lift lines and corduroy snow, we’re here to discuss perhaps the most comprehensive warm weather off-road excursion on this southwest list…

Deep inside Carson National Forest lies Red River—an outdoor utopia with a gold mining past. Featuring seven distinct off-road trails, Red River truly has something for everyone.

Starting out with the easy, the Cabresto Canyon and Cabresto Lake Forest Roads are fit for any skill level and lead to fantastic fishing spots and the remains of former mining areas from a simpler time. For a bit more of a challenge, the Greenie Peak Trail System is a must-see for vista seekers, as it’s the highest peak in New Mexico accessible by motor vehicles.

If you’re up for the challenge, 4th of July Canyon is an intense run, off limits for any vehicle with a 50+” wheelbase—so leave your wheel spacers at home. Goose Lake Road is another difficult trail, and perhaps the most popular, but having the chance to see the Rocky Mountain wildlife along the way (bighorns, marmots) is worth the risk in our opinion.

And if you find yourself out of gas, or itching to get out on foot, Carson National Forest and Red River has some fantastic hiking, fishing, biking, and horseback riding to explore as well.

Arizona: Broken Arrow Trail

If you’re in or around the Sedona, AZ area, Broken Arrow Trail is a stop you’re going to want to make. This is a difficult trail that will put your typical street-legal 4×4 through its paces, without being overly unfair. At only around 3.5 miles round trip, it’s not the longest, but allot yourself at least 2+ hours to traverse.

Right at the start of the trail your first obstacle—a ledge—serves as a measuring stick to see if your vehicle will be able to make it the rest of the way. Stock rigs probably aren’t going to have a great time on Broken Arrow Trail, so we recommend a mid-level lift at the minimum. If you are without a capable 4×4, Pink Jeep Tours is a great way to take the trail in without worrying about your own ability or vehicle. (They partially own the trail itself, so you could say they’re pretty familiar with it.)

Highlights of the trail include Chicken Point with its great vantage points, Mushroom Rock—a fungi-formation shaped roundabout, and The Devil’s Staircase, a steep, boulder-scattered descent that will test your brakes and patience.

N-FAB Truck & Jeep Off-Road Accessories

Whether any of these trails are in your future, or you’re just looking for a bit more protection and style, n-Fab has the accessories to transform your rig. Nerf bars and rock rails are one of the most important parts of keeping your vehicle’s body and undercarriage safe and secure when the trail is anything but flat – and n-Fab builds the strongest, most durable, and best-looking rails and bars in the game. Whether you’ve got a well-worn 4×4 from the 80s, or a top end truck fresh from the dealer, it’s almost certain that n-Fab has an application to suit your needs.

N-Fab’s tubular dominance carries over into a full line of slim and sleek aftermarket bumpers. Featuring vastly thicker steel than their competitors, n-Fab bumpers feature thoughtful design and numerous mounting options for your winch and lights. If you want products that last longer, look better, and fit flawlessly, you need n-Fab.