The following article was written by the New Mexico 4 Wheelers.
This year marks two decades since the New Mexico 4-Wheelers (NM4W) first put its stamp on Gordy’s Hill, and the story of that journey is really a story of partnership—between club volunteers, land managers, and organizations dedicated to responsible recreation. From the earliest scouting runs to our most recent signage project, the progress at Gordy’s Hill has always been rooted in collaboration, persistence, and a shared vision of what this Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area could become.
A Beginning Marked by Collaboration
In the mid-2000s, Gordy’s Hill was a designated “open” area. While the land was already crisscrossed by tracks—including motorcycle loops, ATV racecourses, and historic roads—it lacked designated routes specifically for full-size 4-wheel drive vehicles.
Recognizing that 4WD enthusiasts deserved the same input and consideration regarding travel management as other user groups, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approached NM4W. Working side-by-side with the BLM’s Socorro Field Office, club volunteers helped scout specific arroyos and canyons to identify viable 4WD trails. It was during these BLM-supported exploration runs that NM4W members laid the first tracks up obstacles that would become today’s iconic trails—such as Coyote Canyon—while carefully avoiding sensitive areas identified by land managers.
Those early years set the tone for everything that followed: respectful coordination with land managers, a willingness to put in the work, and a deep sense of stewardship that turned a mixed-use area into a managed recreation resource.
First official runs in Coyote Canyon, 2005
The Long Road to Official Designation
If the scouting itself moved quickly, the administrative path did not. NM4W remained engaged through the years-long effort to see Gordy’s Hill recognized in the BLM Resource Management Plan as a Special Recreation Management Area—an essential step in protecting the area for OHV use.
But even after that recognition, another critical step remained: the BLM had to formally designate a trail system before any new or additional trail signs could be installed. For nearly 20 years after the first sign was placed in 2005, no further developments could be made because the routes were not yet officially established.
NM4W stayed involved throughout this long process, offering field knowledge and public input while working with land managers through staffing turnover, slow-moving federal procedures, and shifting priorities. When the designation finally came in 2023, it opened the long-awaited door for comprehensive signage, kiosks, and a modern, fully functional trail system.
A Modern Vision: Information, Education, and Responsible Use
Designation brought opportunity—and responsibility. To protect the resource and improve the visitor experience, NM4W partnered with Tread Lightly! in 2024 to install a three-panel informational kiosk highlighting area rules, maps, and responsible-use messaging. This project built trust, strengthened relationships with land managers, and set the stage for broader improvements.
The kiosk also demonstrated the power of aligning stewardship, education, and OHV access—values that resonated just as strongly with the BLM and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) OHV Program as they did with NM4W.
The 2025 Signage Project: Collaboration at Its Best
With the groundwork laid, NM4W teamed up once again with the BLM and the New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) to take on its most ambitious project yet. With NMOHVA acting as fiscal agent, the club secured a $20,000 grant from the NMDGF OHV Program to design and install 50 new trail signs.
Implementation moved with impressive speed. On National Public Lands Day, 28 volunteers in 24 vehicles split into six crews, battling a rainy morning that cleared into blue skies. By noon, they had installed 24 signs, while simultaneously hauling out a truckload of trash and assisting stranded public visitors.
Over the next two work sessions, the remaining signs went in smoothly. In total, the club logged nearly 500 volunteer hours in just three days. This project demonstrated that when agencies and recreationists pull in the same direction, the results are world-class.
This was more than a project—it was a demonstration of what can happen when agencies and recreationists pull in the same direction. The BLM provided oversight and guidance, the NMDGF OHV Program provided funding, and NM4W provided planning, manpower, and a level of commitment that has become a trademark of the club’s involvement at Gordy’s Hill.
A Legacy Built Together
From the first raw steel sign in 2005 to the 50 full-color, professionally fabricated trail markers installed in 2025, every milestone at Gordy’s Hill reflects the same enduring truth: public lands thrive when public users step up.
Today, the area stands not just as a system of trails, but as a model of what effective collaboration between OHV clubs and land managers can achieve. The relationships built over two decades—through work days, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) involvement, Tread Lightly! partnerships, and grant-driven projects—have created a framework for long-term stewardship and continued improvements.
And most importantly, the legacy is visible. Our signs, our kiosk, and our work are out there on the land, guiding visitors, protecting resources, and reminding future members that Gordy’s Hill didn’t just happen. It was built—carefully, responsibly, and together.
Looking Ahead
With capital outlay funds already earmarked for future improvements at Arroyo de la Parida and ongoing support from NMOHVA and state partners, the next chapter is waiting to be written. NM4W intends to be part of it—just as we have been from the beginning.
Because the story of Gordy’s Hill isn’t just our history.
It’s our responsibility.
And it’s our proudest work.
We thank the New Mexico 4 Wheelers for sharing this story with us. It’s a great example and playbook on how local clubs and recreationists can work with their regional federal agency offices to protect and increase access to public lands. If you’d like to get more information, head over to New Mexico 4 Wheelers’ website.
Does your club or organization have a similar story? We’d love to hear it! Contact us here.
