Exploring New Mexico’s Otherworldly Bisti Badlands & De-Na-Zin Wilderness

Exploring New Mexico’s Otherworldly Bisti Badlands & De-Na-Zin Wilderness was originally published in April 2025

Step out of New Mexico and onto another planet, where the ground twists into surreal formations, petrified wood lies scattered like ancient relics, and towering hoodoos stand like silent sentinels of time. Welcome to the Bisti Badlands and De-Na-Zin Wilderness, one of New Mexico’s most hauntingly unique gems.

Back in the Denver area for a work contract, I was searching for some cool places for us to explore over an extended Labor Day weekend. I had wanted to get out to the southwest part of Colorado since I had yet to explore the area with Great Sand Dunes National Park being the first stop.

A couple of drinks and staring at maps later, I landed on the alien landscapes of Bisti Badlands in northern New Mexico with a stop at Mesa Verde National Park en route. The blueprint was laid. My first time back in New Mexico after my 2016 visit that brought me to explore the mindblowing White Sands National Park.

Tucked away in the high desert of the Four Corners region, trekking around the Bisti Badlands is akin to taking a wander into a labyrinth of eroded sandstone, siltstone, and shale, sculpted over millions of years into bizarre, almost gravity-defying shapes.

The name Bisti comes from the Navajo word Bistahí, meaning “among the adobe formations,” while De-Na-Zin refers to the cranes depicted in ancient petroglyphs found in the area.

Beyond its eerie beauty, Bisti holds a rich geological and paleontological history. Fossilized logs and dinosaur remains, including the discovery of the massive Bisti Beast (a distant cousin of the T. rex) hint at a prehistoric world that once thrived here.

Unlike other national parks and monuments in this part of the American Southwest, there are no trails, no signs, and no visitor centers. Just you, the elements, and an endless expanse of alien terrain waiting to be explored. Having navigation skills and good preparation are key for a great visit to the Bisti Badlands.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the mesmerizing landscapes of the Bisti Badlands, sharing tips on how to navigate its unmarked wilderness, must-see formations, and why this hidden corner of New Mexico deserves a top spot on your adventure bucket list.

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What are the Bisti Badlands & the De-Na-Zin Wilderness?

The Bisti Badlands and De-Na-Zin together form a 45,000 acre wilderness managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

About 70 million years ago this whole area was a lush coastal swamp that sat on the eastern edge of the Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland sea that split North America in two during the Late Cretaceous period.

Over time, sediment deposition from ancient rivers and a retreating inland sea created layers of sandstone, mudstone, shale, and coal. Subsequent erosion sculpted what was once a seabed into the mesmerizing formations we see today.

The unique formations result from the differing hardness of these sedimentary layers. Softer mudstone erodes more quickly, leaving harder sandstone perched atop slender spires or forming wing-like structures. Petrified wood and fossilized remains of ancient creatures provide a glimpse into the area’s prehistoric life.

How to get to the Bisti Badlands

Bisti Badlands and De-Na-Zin Wilderness are about 40 miles south of Farmington, New Mexico. The main access point for the western side of the area is from the Bisti Badlands Trailhead. The less visited eastern side of the area is reached from the De-Na-Zin Acess Lot.

This is a fairly remote area, so stock up on water, food, and gas in Farmington or Bloomfield before heading out. There is little to no phone signal in and around Bisti/De-Na-Zin.

How to get to the (Main) Bisti Parking Lot

45 minutes drive from Farmington

From Farmington, head south on the NM-371 S for about 36 miles. Next, turn to the northeast (left) onto County Road 7297. After nearly two miles the road will T off, and you will turn north (left) onto Indian Service Route 7000/County Road 7290. After about one mile, the Bisti Parking Lot & Trailhead will be on the right side.

How to get to the North Bisti (Hunter Wash Cristi) Access

50 minutes drive from Farmington

Follow the same route from Farmington to the Bisti Badlands Trailhead but continue another 1.7 miles north to reach the Hunter Wash Cristi Access.

You will see a fence there- follow it to the south where you will see a clear opening into the northern part of the Bisti Badlands (the fenced-off area is private land FYI).

How to get to the De-Na-Zin Parking Lot

60 minutes drive from Farmington

From Farmington or Bloomfield find your way to the US-550 S and stay on it for almost 16 miles. Next, you will turn to the southwest (right) onto Route 7023. Route 7023 is a dirt road that you will follow for roughly 11 miles before you reach the De-Na-Zin Parking Lot.

Must-See Sites in Bisti Badlands

Since there are no marked trails, it’s best to download a GPS map such as Organic Maps, (or bring a compass and topo map) before heading into the maze of badlands. Here are some of the best formations to check out:

Chocolate Hoodoos

📍36.25946, -108.23839

Walking in from the main Bisti Badlands Trailhead, the Chocolate Hoodoos are a short detour south of the Bisti Wash. You’ll know you’ve reached them once you find yourself meandering through reddish-brown-topped hoodoos.

Flat Top Arch

📍36.26627, -108.23248

Back on the main thoroughfare along the Bisti Wash as you head toward the Alien Egg Hatchery, you’ll spot the glaringly white Flat Top Arch.

The Alien Egg Hatchery (Cracked Eggs)

📍 36.26742, -108.22369

One of the most iconic formations in the Bisti Badlands, the Cracked Eggs, looks like a field of giant, fossilized eggs that seem to have hatched open. They’re smooth, rounded, and completely bizarre, especially at sunrise or sunset when the low light brings out their textures.

This cluster of low, weathered concretions is also known as the Alien Hatchery—and yeah, it really does look like a bunch of otherworldly eggs ready to hatch.

Petrified Logs & Petrified Cove

📍 36.26799, -108.21996 & 📍36.26718, -108.22005

One of the coolest things about Bisti? The petrified wood and fossils hidden throughout the badlands. Keep an eye out for massive, ancient logs turned to stone, some of which still have bark-like textures. If you’re lucky, you might even spot the remains of prehistoric creatures embedded in the rock.

You can find petrified logs strewn about the badlands, however, there is a massive petrified log just due east of the Alien Egg Hatchery. Continue beyond the log and into the Petrified Cove to spot more logs and hoodoos.

Eagle’s Nest

📍36.26893, -108.21250

The furthest east of the Bisti Badlands circuit from the main Bisti Trailhead is the Eagle’s Next. It’s a large ridge-like hoodoo, that atop it the rock formation looks like an eagle looking out from her nest.

The Rock Garden

📍36.27009, -108.22559

The Rock Garden features hundreds of tiny hoodoos, rounded rocks, and stones sculpted into wild shapes. Most of these quirky formations stand less than a foot tall.

You’ll find the Rock Garden just 0.25 miles north of the Cracked Eggs.

Valley of Bones, Alien Woman, & the Elegant Hoodoo

📍36.27077, -108.22648

Just slightly north of the Bisti Rock Garden, you’ll come across the scattering of rocks that comprise the Valley of Bones.

In the same vicinity, keep a lookout for the Alien Woman Hoodoo. Just a hair north from where you’ll find the Alien Woman, you will spot the rather smooth-looking Elegant Hoodoo.

Two Windows

📍36.27283, -108.22424

The Two Windows are a pair of small, delicate arches that you can spot when walking north across Bisti Wash from the Cracked Eggs.

Vanilla Hoodoos

📍36.27592, -108.22975

Located about halfway between the Two Windows and the Manta Ray, you’ll find a cluster of bright white, known as the Vanilla Hoodoos. You would pass by them if you are connecting the Bisti Wash and Hunter Wash Cristi trails.

Must-See Sites in Hunter Wash Cristi (Bisti Badlands North)

The Stone Wings

📍 36.27889, -108.23750

The Stone Wings are some of the most Instagram-worthy formations in the area. These elongated, wind-carved rock slabs defy gravity in the best way.

Conversing Hoodoos

📍36.28116, -108.23585

These tall, elegant hoodoos look like ancient rock sages locked in conversation. You’ll find the Conversing Hoodoos along the southern edge of Hunter Wash—just a short, quarter-mile trek from the Stone Wings.

Unfortunately, at the time of my visit (September 2024) only one of the Conversing Hoodoos remained, so I guess he’s out there talking to himself now. I could not find any updated articles online or social media posts detailing when it may have collapsed or been damaged.

Manta Ray

📍36.27628, -108.23620

The Manta Ray Hoodoo is surrounded by a chaotic jumble of rocks and hoodoos, but the top of the hoodoo does resemble a manta ray. The Manta Ray is located between the Stone Wings and the Rock Garden, making it a good detour for those that will combine the sites located on the main Bisti Badlands Trail with the sites on the Hunter Wash Cristi Trail to the north.

Must-See Sites in De-Na-Zin Wilderness

Collared Hoodoo

📍36.31466, -108.01417

The Collared Hoodoo is a hoodoo on top of a hoodoo, like nature got a little carried away with the layering process. It’s located below the De-Na-Zin Wash’s south rim.

A good plan is to visit the Collared Hoodoo on the way to the De-Na-Zin Arch as it is located on the south rim of De-Na-Zin Wash on the way from the De-Na-Zin parking area.

De-Na-Zin Arch

📍36.31303, -108.01855

The De-Na-Zin Arch sits along the south rim of De-Na-Zin Wash, about one mile from the De-Na-Zin parking area. This arch features an eight-foot-wide opening that perfectly frames the surrounding badlands.

Right Angle Arch

📍36.31895, -108.01802

Hidden on the north rim of De-Na-Zin Wash, about 1.5 miles from the De-Na-Zin parking lot, sits the Right Angle Arch.

Hiking in the Bisti Badlands & De-Na-Zin Wilderness

Hiking in Bisti Badlands and De-Na-Zin Wilderness isn’t too strenuous and you have the upside of getting to stop quite often to check out the area’s otherworldly formations.

That said, Bisti is completely undeveloped and pretty remote. Being prepared and having a GPS device (or at least an offline GPS map downloaded on your phone) is key to a smooth visit.

Case and point, when we arrived at the De-Na-Zin Access maybe an hour before sunset, we stopped to make sandwiches before heading out. There was a man who came through the gate back to the parking lot as we got out of the car who had lost his wife out there. She and the dog had split from him to come back to the car earlier and got lost.

He was panicking, we told him we were about to head out there and that we would search for her. A couple of minutes later, she popped up on the horizon with their dog. She had taken a wrong turn and eventually realized it and turned back. Her husband lost his mind screaming his head off at her. Needless to say, it was awkward, so have a GPS or map handy so you don’t risk getting lost out there and having to be berated by an angry husband or burning to a crisp (or worse) out there because you couldn’t find your way back.

Do bring plenty of water with you as there is no water source and it is quite hot out here spring, summer, and fall. Bringing snacks is also wise.

As always, pack everything you bring in back out with you. There are no facilities beyond the parking lots (and even then, the main Bisti Badlands Trailhead is the only one with a toilet, covered seating, or trash bins).

Bisti Badlands Trailhead

Distance: 6.92 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 46 feet
Type: loop

Destinations Along the Bisti Badlands Trail

• Chocolate Hoodoos
• Flat Top Arch
• Cracked Eggs
• Petrified Wood & Cove
• Eagle’s Nest
• Bisti Rock Garden
• Valley of Bones, Alien Woman & Elegant Hoodoo

This is the main trailhead that the majority of visitors to the Bisti Badlands will use. That said, even on a holiday weekend it was pretty quiet with only about four other vehicles in the trailhead parking lot.

The route more or less follows the course of the Bisti Wash to the east. The first site you’ll visit if taking on the loop counter-clockwise will be the Chocolate Hoodoos, which will require you to make a jaunt to the south to see.

From the Chocolate Hoodoos, continue back up toward the main wash and continue east to pass by the Flat Top Arch en route to the Alien Egg Hatchery’s Cracked Eggs and eventually to the Petrified Wood and Cove.

Next, continue to the furthest point east on the loop at the Eagle Nest, and from here, the route will continue back west toward the remains of the now-collapsed Bisti Arch. At this point, you’ll veer north to reach the Rock Garden, before continuing to the Valley of Bones where you will also see the Alien Woman and Elegant Hoodoo.

Continue back toward the main wash and back to the main Bisti parking lot.

Hunter Wash Cristi Trail

Distance: 2.70 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 56 feet
Type: loop

Destinations Along the Hunter Wash Trail

• Conversing Hoodoos
• Stone Wings
• Manta Ray

The Hunter Cristi Wash/North Bisti route starts along a fence demarcating the privately owned section of the badlands. If walking along the fence, you should eventually reach an entrance into the Bisti Badlands. Continue from here to the east for some time to eventually see the remains of the one Conversing Hoodoo still standing.

From the hoodoo, go up and over or around the ridge and get back on route to eventually hit the famous Stone Wings, and from there, it’s only a short jaunt to the Manta Ray.

From Manta Ray, make way back up to the main wash and back to the lot.

De-Na-Zin Access

Distance: 4.30 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 400 feet
Type: loop

Destinations Along the De-Na-Zin Access

• Collared Hoodoo
• De-Na-Zin Arch
• Right Angle Arch

Starting from the De-Na-Zin Wilderness Access lot, head north first and then eventually to the west, if doing the route clockwise. Eventually, the Collared Hoodoo up on the edge of a ridge should come into view.

Beyond the Collared Hoodoo to the west, you will reach the De-Na-Zin Arch. From here, the route till continue into the wash after a bit of a scramble and eventually curve around to reach the Right Angle Arch. After this, the route, circled back around to follow the sandy trail back to the access lot.

Where to Stay & Camping at Bisti Badlands

As the Bisti Badlands are on BLM land, camping is permitted but you will need to be self-sufficient and practice leave no trace.

There are no official campgrounds in Bisti Badlands or De-Na-Zin Wilderness. We did camp in the De-Na-Zin Wilderness Access Lot and one other couple did as well the night we stayed there.

When we explored the Bisti Badlands and Hunter Wash Cristi sections there was one camper van posted up in the main Bisti Trailhead Lot.

If you will be day-tripping to Bisti or De-Na-Zin, plan to book a hotel in either Farmington or Bloomington- check options on Booking.com.

Tips for Visiting Bisti Badlands & De-Na-Zin Wilderness

• If visiting in the early months, plan to hike early in the day before it gets too hot, there is almost no shade
• Do not collect any fossils or petrified wood
• Motor vehicles are not allowed in the wilderness areas (beyond the parking lots)
• Campfires are not allowed
• There is little to mobile phone service
• Bring plenty of water and food for the amount of time you plan to spend here
• Make sure you fill up on fuel in Farmington or Bloomfield as there are no gas stations
• Tread lightly as the formations that make the Bisti Badlands unique can be delicate
• There are no facilities in the area except for outhouses at the Bisti Badlands Trailhead
• Check the weather before you head out, the roads could get washed out after a heavy rain

Have any questions about visiting Bisti Badlands or the De-Na-Zin Wilderness?

Ask in the comments section below.

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