Forest Road 445 – Big Burro Mountains Loop

Forest Road 445 winds through the heart of the Big Burro Mountains, connecting a network of abandoned copper and silver mines that fueled southwestern New Mexico’s boom-and-bust cycles. The route passes the remnants of Tyrone, once a major copper camp, before climbing into technical terrain where mine tailings and loose rock challenge traction and undercarriage clearance. Signal Peak, at 8,032 feet, offers commanding views across the Chihuahuan Desert toward Mexico’s Sierra Madre.

This is serious 4WD country requiring skid plates and recovery gear. The rocky climbs and off-camber sections demand experience, especially the descent toward Leopold. Summer heat makes this route brutal – stick to cooler months when possible. No services exist along the route, and cell coverage is nonexistent. Water is scarce, so pack plenty. The payoff is solitude in some of New Mexico’s most remote backcountry, where you might not see another vehicle for days.