El Coyote Expedition [ECE]: Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th, 2026 (Epic Weekender) – New Mexico Black Range’s “Master of the Wild” ultra-traverse and circumnavigation of the Gila – Guided by NMBR’s Jake Quiñones

Overview

New Mexico’s Gila Region // Approximate Route Distance: 325 to 350-Miles // Approximate Elevation Range: 4,375 to 9,000-Feet // Areas of exploration will include Gila East, Gila North, Black Range, and Great Divide Trail // New Mexico Black Range’s newest and boldest Gila traversal is geared towards overlanders with moderate to advanced experience levels. The El Coyote Expedition will include a faster pace, longer drive days, minimal instruction and education sessions, and prove more rigorous than NMBR’s other overland-based adventures. Visit the NMBR’s New Mexico Gila Adventure photo gallery for a preview of the El Coyote Expedition experience. LINK - goo.gl/UsrcF6

The Experience

This April, New Mexico Black Range will be leading an epic expedition route and experience through the heart of the Southwest’s wildest and most remote region—the 3.3-million-acre Gila National Forest. NMBR created the El Coyote Expedition specifically to captivate the purpose, pace, and rigors associated with NMBR’s regular non-guided fieldwork and scouting missions. The El Coyote Expedition combines two of NMBR’s remote fieldwork and scouting routes into a three-day monumental circumnavigation of the Gila’s farthest reaches. Seasoned and skilled overlanders “Masters of the Wild”, that desire long drive days, a brisk pace, and a full gamut of rugged terrain, will thrive during this adventure. Due to widely varying weather patterns, Springtime overland travels through the Gila region often entails challenging backroad and camp conditions. Snow, rain, below-freezing temperatures, mud, ice, extensive tree falls across roadway (requiring clearing), and difficult driving conditions may be encountered along the El Coyote Expedition route. Those that enjoy a more leisurely pace, less demanding driving conditions, more frequent scenic stops/breaks, and expanded educational and training opportunities should consider NMBR’s other overland-based trip offerings.

NMBR has guided portions of the ECE route for American Expedition Vehicles and General Motors as they tested their vehicles against a variety of harsh terrain and rigorous driving conditions. The El Coyote Expedition route includes a diverse range of scenery, history, terrain, and backroads found nowhere else in North America. Landscapes and terrain will include desert, savannah, grassland, chaparral, canyon bottoms, ponderosa parks, and dense forest with elevations ranging from 4,375 to 9,000-feet. Areas of exploration will include Gila East, Black Range, Gila West, Gila North, and Continental Divide, all while skirting the world’s first established wilderness areas—the Gila Wilderness & Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Road types and conditions will include washboards, two tracks, primitive non-maintained, graded, mountain shelf, dirt byway and (least of all) pavement. The ECE will provide outstanding landscapes, wildlife viewing opportunities (including Mexican grey wolf territory), and aggressive elevation contours.

Where, When & Pricing

The El Coyote Expedition will take place Friday, April 24th to Sunday, April 26th, 2026. Participants will meet the morning of Friday, April 24th in southern New Mexico; the exact departure location and details will be provided during the registration process. Pricing for single driver (single participant) is $991.00 (plus tax). Pricing for each additional participant in vehicle (passengers, second drivers, minors) is $924.00 (plus tax).

Planning & Preparations

In order to participate in NMBR’s tours and training courses, minimum driver, vehicle, equipment & provision essentials requirements must be met. NMBR’s Overland, Expedition, & EXP-4WD Training Checklist can be found HERE. This checklist provides a categorized breakdown to help prospective participants properly prepare and gear up for the NMBR experience and beyond. The El Coyote Expedition will require participants to be self-supportive with regards to vehicle, equipment, meals, and supplies. Services or re-supply of any kind, including cell signals, fuel, food, water, or anything remotely civilized, will be unavailable for stretches of up to 225 miles or more (if re-routes occur). Please note: The majority El Coyote Expedition will take place at altitudes above 6,500-feet (in the high-country) where spring temperatures can drop below freezing and snow is entirely possible. Participants should be aware that driving and camping conditions could be very cold, wet, muddy, and/or snowy during this trip. If these possible conditions don’t appeal to you, or outside of your comfort zone for overland-based travels, please consider NMBR’s summer and fall based trips instead. Participants will need to prepare accordingly and bring the appropriate all-weather clothing, gear, and shelter.

Go Boldly with NMBR - Over the past decade, NMBR has written a series of informative overland travel-based articles (NMBR’s Field Preparedness Manual) with topics ranging from field kit assembly, to vehicle maintenance and upkeep, to equipment and gear advice. These articles, paired with extensive checklists and instructions, are provided to registered participants as a solid foundation for what to expect, how to prepare, and what to bring for the adventure. During the El Coyote Expedition pre-trip planning and preparation period, NMBR will be available to provide expert opinion and feedback to registered participants for any questions or concerns related to getting ready and gearing up for the adventure. The self-sufficient aspect of NMBR guided expeditions, overland adventures, and training courses challenges and prepares participants for their future 4WD based endeavors—to go boldly, prepared, and with confidence.

Register

Ready for your next great adventure? If you are interested in joining the El Coyote  Expedition, or would like to receive extended details for the tour, please  email jake@newmexicoblackrange.com and additional driver/equipment requirements and registration information will be provided. Or send a message through the contact page.