Forest Road 274 – Manzano Mountains Loop

Forest Road 274 loops through the Manzano Mountains’ forgotten mining country, where turn-of-the-century prospectors blasted silver and lead from limestone cliffs. The 22-mile circuit starts near the village of Tajique and climbs through piñon-juniper country before hitting the technical stuff around Capilla Peak – a series of white limestone shelves that’ll scrape your running boards if you’re not careful. The old Osha Mine ruins make a good lunch stop before the descent through Red Canyon.

This is moderate 4WD country requiring high clearance and decent ground clearance for the limestone steps. Late spring through early fall runs best, though afternoon thunderstorms can make the clay sections slippery as hell. No permits needed in Cibola National Forest, but bring plenty of water since the only reliable source is Osha Spring near mile 15. The dispersed camping up near Capilla Peak puts you at 9,000 feet with killer views of the Rio Grande valley and the Sandias to the north.