Forest Road 70 – Brazos Ridge

Forest Road 70 climbs from the Chama River Valley up through dense spruce forests to the Brazos Ridge, gaining over 3,000 feet through switchbacks carved by Depression-era loggers. The route starts innocuously near the ghost town of Brazos before turning nasty around mile 8 where loose shale and embedded boulders demand patience and precise tire placement. Past the worst rocky section, the road opens onto alpine meadows with commanding views of the Tusas Mountains and Carson National Forest.

This is solid intermediate territory requiring high-clearance 4WD and aggressive all-terrain tires minimum. Snow lingers until June above 9,000 feet, making July through September the sweet spot for running this ridge. No permits needed, but bring extra water since the only reliable source is Brazos Creek at the start. Plan on camping dispersed along the ridge – there’s nothing better than waking up at 10,000 feet with the entire northern New Mexico spread out below you.