Near Bisti Badlands' Winged Hoodoos
Keep an eye out for this Winged Hoodoo shaped like a stingray.
Near Bisti Badlands' Winged Hoodoos
Winged Hoodoo is a delightful sight along the hike.
Near Bisti Badlands' Winged Hoodoos
The sun sets over a stout hoodoo along the hike. More than 20 exist in this area for your viewing.
Near Bisti Badlands' Winged Hoodoos
A strange cannonball-like formation sits in the wash along the hike.

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Hike Route

Bisti Badlands' Winged Hoodoos

4.8 (5 Ratings)
The Bisti Badlands are a BLM managed area full of strange rock formations, fossils, and geologic interest.
4.1
mi
Distance
116
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Family FriendlyViewsWildlife
Access Issues
Contact the Farmington NM BLM office at (505) 564-7600 and look for signs posted at the parking lot for any current restrictions.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
4.15mi
Distance
116ft
Elevation Gain
116ft
Elevation Loss
10%
Max Grade
5,844ft
High Point
5,771ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
From the parking lot, start out on the flat following the main wash to the northeast for ~3/4 mile until you pass the end of the fenced area of Navajo land. Cross the main wash and take a turn NNE heading into the hills. By about the 1 mile point, you'll have hills on both sides and "cannon balls" may start to appear at the foot of some of the hills. Watch your footing! The ground will now be a mixture of hardpack and sand in lower-lying places. From here, you'll need to scramble over a few passes to get into the hills and gain some altitude. Start watching for small water tunnels as they indicate hollow hills to be extra careful on. There are places where the hills collapse into these hollows and result in a 20+ foot deep pit of broken rocks that you don't want to end up in.On the top of the ridge, there will be some hoodoos with a clear view to the west that are great to photograph during sunset. Further north and northeast, you'll start seeing winged hoodoos on the summits and western edges of the hills. Explore away in this area, and bring the Mobile App to make sure you can find your way back to the car.PLEASE DO NOT DAMAGE THE FORMATIONS. They are delicate formations that took millennia to create and can't be put back together.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Rob M.