The Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) 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.
Activities
OHVs, camping.
Facilities
None; restrooms and drinking water are not available.
Location / Access
Hackberry Lake OHV Area is about 20 miles northeast of Carlsbad, NM, and can be accessed at a number of locations. To access the most commonly used parking area, follow US 62/180, turn north on SR 360, and travel approximately 5.7 miles and turn east on CR 222. The parking lot is on the north side of the road.
Please note that private property and facilities are intermingled with the Hackberry Lake OHV area. Please remember that this public land is a place of business for livestock grazing operations, oil and gas leaseholders, mining, communication and utility companies. Ride with caution and be alert for trucks and heavy equipment on and off the pavement.
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