Red River — Goose Lake Trail

We’re heading up to northern New Mexico for a run on the Goose Lake Trail outside of Red River. It’s a solid half-day trail with real scenery, some legitimate obstacles, and a destination worth the drive.

Meet-Up & Departure We’re meeting at the Speedway in Bernalillo (224 US-550, Bernalillo, NM 87004) at 7:30 AM. It’s a good spot to fuel up and get organized before the convoy north. Plan for roughly 3 hours to Red River from there.

About the Trail Goose Lake Trail is rated 5/10 on onX Offroad. The route climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 7.3 miles of tight two-track, finishing at one of the highest and most scenic alpine lakes in New Mexico. Plan for approximately 3.5 hours round trip on the trail itself.

The trail starts with a river crossing. Water depth on the Red River crossing varies with seasonal flow and can range from 12 to 30 inches — we’re anticipating up to around 20 inches on a mid-June run. Know your vehicle’s wading depth before the day of. The first two miles run along a narrow shelf road with limited passing opportunities, so maintaining proper spacing between rigs matters here. Along the way you’ll pass remnants of mining cabins dating back to the late 1800s. The upper section of the trail is more straightforward, though deep ruts can be an issue in wet conditions.

Goose Lake sits at 11,719 feet elevation with views of the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

After the Trail We’ll spend some time in the town of Red River before heading home good food and worth the stop.

Rig Requirements

• 4WD with adequate ground clearance for water crossings
• Recovery gear (tow strap, shackles at minimum)
• CB or radio recommended for shelf road sections
• Check weather conditions in the days leading up to the run

This run is capped at 10 rigs.