Hackberry Lake OHV Area
Hackberry Lake OHV Area covers over 55,000 acres of rolling stabilized dune lands, cliffs, draws, and arroyo systems approximately 20 miles northeast of Carlsbad in Eddy County, New Mexico, managed by the BLM Carlsbad Field Office. This is one of the largest designated OHV open-riding areas in New Mexico: a vast expanse of Chihuahuan Desert scrubland where dune formations, hardpan clay flats, sandy washes, and dry lake beds create natural terrain variety without the need for engineered obstacles. The area is designated for motorcycles, sand dune buggies, and all OHV vehicle types on an open-riding basis rather than a marked trail network: riders navigate by GPS, track, or landmark. Facilities at the staging area include 10 picnic sites, a vault toilet, an information kiosk, and a group shelter near the primary dunes complex. No entrance fee; 7-day stay limit; quiet hours from 10pm to 7am. Dispersed camping is allowed within the area boundaries. The Carlsbad area location (near the Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and the Permian Basin energy corridor), makes Hackberry Lake a natural complement to a broader southeast New Mexico road trip. Contact the BLM Carlsbad Field Office (575-234-5972) for access directions and current conditions.