Alien Throne
Alien Throne
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, NM
The American Southwest never ceases to amaze…
This extraterrestrial-looking sandstone formation is found in the Valley of Dreams in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah wilderness. In the American Southwest, hoodoos and rock formations come in many unique sizes and shapes. However, the Alien Throne is one of the most unusual and mesmerizing I have ever seen.
You could wander around the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness for hours exploring the Valley of Dream and never find this unworldly spot (unless you know exactly where it is). Before going, download the GPS coordinates / KMZ trail file below (or another navigation app), or at least have a map of the area, or you may miss this magical formation.
The Valley of the Dreams is home to many stunning sandstone hoodoos, and each is fragile. When you visit, please do your best to preserve all aspects of this location for future visitors and always try to leave it in better shape than when you found it.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE TO CHALLENGING
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 to 3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The difficulty of getting to this location depends on the vehicle and the weather. With a high clearance 4 x 4 vehicle, you can park and have an easy 1-mile hike to the Alien Throne. With a moderate SUV, the parking area is about 2.0 miles from this location. If the roads are wet, you should consider not driving the 4 x 4 high-clearance roads.
I have shown two trails to Alien Throne below (in the directions section). The first trail in RED (1.1 miles from the 4 x 4 parking area) will walk through many incredible formations of the Valley of Dreams. The Alt trail in PURPLE (.9 miles from Alt 4 x 4 parking area) is shorter and more direct.
With the correct information, both hikes are straightforward (with a few modest ravines to cross) with little or no real elevation gain. However, you are walking through the badlands with no discernible trails, and it is easy to get lost, and the heat in the warmer months can be strenuous. Without the correct GPS coordinates, you can walk through the Valley Of Dreams area for hours and never find this spot. I suggest downloading the KMZ files on your smartphone to help you navigate your way in and out.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
6,191 Ft. Elevation
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Photography Tips
You would think that photographing a simple rock formation would be so easy - a caveman could do it. Well, not so much. The challenges with taking this image are the foreground, the perspective, and the sun.
Foreground - when at this location, pay close attention to the foreground and surrounding formations when considering your composition. Moving right/left or up/down, you will notice a simple but meaningful change in your composition.
Perspective - obviously, the main subject in this image is the Alien Throne formation - which is tall and thin. And when you change the heights of and especially tilt (up or down) an ultra-wide lens, the distortion (keystone effect) of the objects not in the center of the lens change dramatically. When choosing your composition, I advise paying close attention to this "keystone effect" of the Alien Throne formation.
The sun - in the late afternoon, toward sunset, the sun will be directly in front of you, which makes it very difficult to gather your thoughts on your composition. If you are lucky, the sun will go behind a cloud for a few minutes, so you can pick the composition you like.
SPECIAL NOTE: pay attention to the sunlight on the holes toward the top of the Alien Throne formation. It adds to the composition.
Also, I suggest studying several other images from this location to find your favorite perspective. Slight differences in the lens's location, height, and tilt will produce completely different compositions. The image above was taken on the left side, at 17mm, with the camera height just above the closest formation you see in the image.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah / Valley of Dreams parking area
From Farmington - drive south NM 371 for 45 miles and then turn left onto CR 7650/Is Rt 7022 (a well-maintained dirt road). Continue on this for 7.8 miles and then turn right on CR 7870 (this is still a well-maintained dirt road). Drive south (and then it veers east) on CR 7870 for 7.6 miles until you see a dirt road on your left.
Take this 4 x 4 dirt road for about 1.5 miles, and you will see a fenced-off coral on your left. This is where you need to decide to go to the primary or the Alt 4 x 4 high clearance parking area. The primary parking area is to the left for about .6 miles, and the Alt parking area is straight for about .8 miles. Neither road is earlier nor more difficult than the other.
From the primary 4 x 4 high clearance parking area, hike northwest for approximately .8 miles through some cool-looking formations, then take a right (east) for about .3 of a mile. Alien Throne will be on your right side.
From the Alt 4 x 4 high clearance parking area, hike west for .9 of a mile, and the Alien Throne will be on your left side.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DOWNLOAD THE KMZ FILES TO GET TO THIS LOCATION. If you do not know the exact route to Alien Throne, you could search for hours to find it.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 17 mm
Exposure – 1/2 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Feb 11th
Time – 5:50 pm
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The best time to shoot Alien Throne is sunset, as the sun will set behind the formation. You can also shoot this location on an overcast day.
Best Time of Year
You can shoot at this location any time of year. The optimal time would be spring (April or May) or fall, as the sun will set more to the right of the formation. In the winter or early spring, the sun will set to the left or directly behind the formation. Summer will be hot, but the sun will set to the farthest right position.
Lens(es) Needed
This is a wide to ultra-wide-angle shot. The image above was taken at 17mm.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
No permits are required at the time of this writing (July 2023).
Direction of the Shot
The direction of this shot is west, around 270°.
Equipment Needed
You need a sturdy tripod, as you will likely have to composite the foreground and the sky. Also, ensure you have a headlamp or flashlight to ensure you can find your way to and from your vehicle after the sunset shot.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
I have been to this location 3 times (each time in the winter/spring) and have never seen another person at Alien Throne. However, other folks were in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah and Valley of Dreams areas. With that being said, the best place to take this shot can only accommodate 2 to 4 photographers.
Weather
The area around the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah area is a high desert climate at about 6,100 ft. elevation. The temperatures can vary up to 30° - 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the high 90s.
Cell Service
I have Verizon, and the cell service from this location is spotty. A stronger cell signal is available as you drive toward HWY 371.
Area Guides and Workshops
None