ATV Riding at Red Sands, El Paso: Guide-Led Can-Am Adventure

You drive the machine. The guide shows you where to go

ATV riding at Red Sands near El Paso puts you behind the wheel of a Can-Am Maverick X3 for a guided 25-mile trail run across an ancient seabed of red dunes, rocky climbs and hard-packed desert. A certified guide leads in a separate vehicle, so you get the thrill of driving a high-powered machine with expert navigation. Safety briefing, driving instruction, helmets, goggles and fuel are included. Drivers must be 18+ with a valid license, and front passengers at least 60 inches tall.

The experience

Red Sands sits just minutes from El Paso but feels like another world: 14,000 acres of ancient seabed carved into massive red dunes, rocky hills and wide-open trails that you won't find on your own. Most UTV rentals hand you the keys and point you toward the desert. Here, a professional guide rides out front in a separate vehicle, which means you get the confidence of expert navigation while you operate the machine. The Can-Am Maverick X3 is brand-new, and the 30-minute safety briefing and driving instruction get you ready before the trail ride begins.

The 25-mile route takes roughly an hour once you're rolling, and the terrain shifts as you go: hard-packed sections give way to climbs, then open stretches where you can feel what the machine can do. Red Sands is a mix of private and public lands, not an official OHV park, which is why riding with a guide who knows the established routes matters: it keeps the landscape open for everyone and keeps you on the right side of no-trespassing signs. Fuel is included, helmets and goggles are provided, and the guide gratuity is customary at the end.

Meet at the East El Paso tour office, 17 minutes from the airport. You'll need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. A $35 damage waiver per vehicle applies at check-in, or you can leave a $1,500 refundable deposit instead.

What’s included

• Brand-new Can-Am Maverick X3.
• helmets and goggles.
• fuel for the ride.
• 30-minute safety briefing and driving instruction.
• professional guide leading in a separate vehicle.
• ~1-hour guided trail ride covering 25 miles across Red Sands.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and Wednesday6 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:00

Book up to2h before

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 70

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Rent a UTV

Is this one for you?The ride takes about 90 minutes total from arrival to finish, with the first 30 minutes spent on instruction before you hit the trails. Plan for a morning or afternoon slot, and arrive 30 minutes early so you're ready to go when your guide is.

Traveler reviews

4.76★★★★★★★★★★

63 verified traveler reviews

5 ★53

4 ★6

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I ride if I've never driven an ATV before?

No experience is needed. The 30-minute safety briefing and driving instruction cover everything, and your guide leads the way the entire time so you learn as you go.

How far is Red Sands from El Paso airport?

The tour office is 17 minutes from El Paso International Airport, and Red Sands itself is just a few minutes beyond that.

What's included in the price?

The Can-Am Maverick X3, helmets, goggles, fuel, the safety briefing, driving instruction and the guide's navigation are all included. The $35 damage waiver is collected at check-in.

How many people can ride in one Can-Am?

One driver plus up to three passengers per vehicle. The driver must be 18+ with a valid license, front passengers at least 60 inches tall, and rear passengers at least 46 inches tall.

What makes Red Sands different from other desert riding spots near El Paso?

Red Sands spans 14,000 acres of an ancient seabed with 25 miles of established trails through red dunes, rocky climbs and hard-packed desert that you simply can't find on your own, and the guide knows every route.