Jemez Mountain Trail

The Jemez Mountains sit in the Santa Fe National Forest west of Los Alamos, and the driving here is scenic backcountry road rather than a dedicated OHV trail system. The named routes are specific. The Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway follows NM 4 and NM 126, both paved, and the unpaved motorized access runs on forest roads including FR 376 and FR 144. FR 376 north is the route to the San Antonio Hot Springs trailhead, a five mile drive on the forest road followed by a 0.7 mile walk to the springs themselves. Because the Santa Fe National Forest manages travel by designated route, the Motor Vehicle Use Map is the document that decides where you may legally drive and which vehicle classes are allowed on each road. Carry the current MVUM and treat it as authoritative over any map app. One seasonal closure catches people out every year: FR 376 north to the San Antonio Hot Springs trailhead is closed to motorized traffic from March 3 through July 1 annually, though non-motorized access is allowed during the closure, so you can still walk or ride a bike in. Dispersed camping is permitted in designated corridors shown on the MVUM, with the usual guidance to stay at least 200 feet from water and 300 feet from trails. The landscape is volcanic, built on the Valles Caldera, with ponderosa and mixed conifer, red rock, and hot springs fed by the same geology. Elevation means winter snow closes roads and summer brings a genuine monsoon season with afternoon thunderstorms from July into September. Jemez Springs and Los Alamos are the practical supply stops. This page describes access and permits for the area's forest road network rather than one specific route, because the record does not name a single trail.