Valley of dreams

Lost in a vast desert area in the North-East of New Mexico, Valley of Dreams is very isolated and very little visited. It includes 3 main areas and 2 "stars": Alien Throne and King of Wings. Here, nature has shaped hoodoos with a lot of imagination.

Accessible by County Roads (wide gravel tracks) in very good condition and then by sandy tracks, it is of course preferable to have a 4WD, even if it is not essential. We had been there without any problem with a 2 wheel drive in 2017.

As in all deserts, it can be very hot in summer : plan water accordingly.

Alien Throne

Length and duration of the hike 1,7 miles one way

2 to 3 hours

Free

GPS tracks to download

GPS trail to download

This hike takes you to Alien Throne, an iconic hoodoo in the area, but there are also other photogenic hoodoos. On the trail that leads to it, you will also see some petrified tree trunks. This site is ideal in the late afternoon at sunset, which is when you see the most people. It is also famous for night photos. Bring a flashlight for the return at night.

Access : from Highway 371, take the CR7650 (N36°09'55.9" W108°09'05.1") east for 5,9 miles and at the GPS N36°11'29.6" W108°01'25.6" take the track on the right which becomes the CR7875 then CR7870 for 7,6 miles until the GPS N36°07'26.5" W107°58'48.8". So far the track does not present any difficulty. Then take the small track (easy to miss) on the left, slightly sandy. After about 0,34 mile, take a left turn (N36°07'30.9" W107°58'27.0") then continue to the car park for 1,2 miles (N36°08'26.9" W107°58'00.0").

Three Kings

Length and duration of the hike Depending on wish

2 to 3 hours

Free

GPS tracks to download

GPS trail to download

Three Kings owes its name to 3 big hoodoos (1st picture of the gallery) but one of them has lost its "hat". The site is composed of a multitude of hoodoos going from very small to large. We walked among them on 3 miles.

Access : from Highway 371, take the CR7650 (N36°09'55.9" W108°09'05.1") east for 5,9 miles and at the GPS N36°11'29.6" W108°01'25.6" take the track on the right which becomes the CR7875 then CR7870 for 7,6 miles until the GPS N36°07'26.5" W107°58'48.8". So far the track does not present any difficulty. Then take the small track (easy to miss) on the left, slightly sandy. After about 0,34 mile, take a left turn (N36°07'30.9" W107°58'27.0") then pass the Alien Throne parking lot at 1,2 miles (N36°08'26.9" W107°58'00.0"). Continue on the track for 0,6 mile to GPS point N36°08'47.5" W107°57'40.1".

King of Wings

Length and duration of the hike 1,9 miles one way

2 hours

Free

GPS tracks to download

GPS trail to download

Here again, there is a main "star", a really big wing that seems to defy the laws of gravity. It is also a famous place for the nighstscape (night landscape photography with milky way). Apart from King of Wings, there are several small hoodoos to see but these can not compete with the master of the place. If you decide to take some pictures after dark, plan to have a GPS on which you will have recorded your way to the go. Because with the night, the return can be complicated, alternating between rise and descent on rather moving mounds in places.

Access : from Highway 371, take the CR7650 (N36°09'55.9" W108°09'05.1") east for 10.2 miles and at the GPS N36°12'20.0" W107°59'14.7" take the track on the right towards a wind turbine for 1 mile. For those whose car is not high enough, park at the wind turbine (N36°11'32.5" W107°59'13.4'') and continue on foot, otherwise continue on the same track along the fence. This track is good but soon after the wind turbine, it is better to have a car with a high clearance to pass a tricky spot on the track. Follow the fence for 0,43 mile, turn right on a slight descent (N36°11'26.1" W107°58'31.2"). On the left side of the hill a flat and wide area is a good place to park and camp, otherwise you can continue 0,46 mile to the last car park (N36°11'02.2" W107°58'17.8"), park and continue on foot.