Bisti Badlands & De Na Zin Wilderness

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In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience

Bisti Badlands / De Na Zin Wilderness - New Mexico

What to do if you have little time : Bisti Badlands.

Superb site and diversified with its rock formations in the shape of eggs, hoodoos or "wings". Although the site is not very extensive, geological curiosities are quite far from each other and their size is not very important, so they are not easy to find. The famous eggs, very photogenic, do not exceed 19 inches high. The wings are prettier at sunset. It is necessary to prepare your visit to have a chance to find these formations. A hiking GPS is a valuable aid and as attendance is low in this area you will probably be alone. Warning, these badlands are in the desert and 1 hour drive from the city of Farmington. Provide gasoline and water accordingly.

Prefer late afternoon and sunset. In this case, you'll need a flashlight.

Length and duration of the hike Loop of 5,6 miles minimum

Half a day

Free

GPS tracks to download

GPS trail to download

From the parking at Bisti, an unmarked loop trail allows in 5,6 miles to see the eggs and the wings. Near the eggs, a small arch deserves a detour. By extending the hike beyond the wings, we quickly reach Bonnet Twins : 2 pretty hoodoos. Coming back from the Twins, you will cross an area where there are many hoodoos. This hike is easy with little elevation gain. The only difficulty here is the heat.

If, to have a better light, you choose to hike in late afternoon until sunset, plan to have a flashlight with you because the return to the car park will be mostly in the dark, especially in septembre.

Access : from Farmington, take NM371 south for 36 miles and then turn left onto the track CR7297 for 1,9 miles. Then left again on CR7290 for 1 mile to the parking.

GPS : for eggs: N36 ° 16.043 'W108 ° 13,429'. For the wings: N36 ° 16,756 'W108 ° 14.246'. For Bonnet Twins : N36°16'52.0" W108°14'09.1". For the arch : N36°16'07.4" W108°13'34.1".

De Na Zin Wilderness

Length and duration of the hike Depending on wish

Half a day

Free

GPS tracks to download

GPS trail to download

Site close to Bisti Badlands, but even more isolated. It is also less interesting.

Access : from Bloomfield, take US550 south for 24,8 miles and then turn right on Bia7023 for 11,2 miles to the parking (GPS: N36 ° 18,694 'W108 ° 00,155').

To see around

Lodging

It's quite hard to find a campground in Farmington. So you need to go to Bloomfield to find one. We have tested :

Bloomfield - Desert Rose Resort : not very shaded campground, quite noisy but well equipped : pool, spa, laundries, wifi. 30$ per site in september 2014.

Wild camping on Bisti Badlands car park : the best to discover the site and to be there at sunrise and sunset.

Farmington - Rodeway Inn : classic but old fashioned hotel. Breakfast included. 69$ per room for 4 in september 2017. Back to this hotel in April 2022: 65$ for 2 people. It has deteriorated again: the common areas are very dirty, the linen hardly clean or stained, not friendly reception.
Farmington - Brentwood Inn : very good hotel with breakfast. 75$ the room for 2 persons in April 2022.