Bisti Badlands Wings
BISTI BADLANDS (WINGS)
Bisti Badlands, Northwest New Mexico
Have you ever been to Mars?
The Bisti Badlands, south of Farmington, NM, is one of the most unique places I have ever visited and definitely one of coolest places nobody has ever heard of. This completely unworldly place was once a coastal swamp of an inland sea – and provides views of some of the most amazing sandstone rock formations you will ever see.
The Badlands offer some of the most unusual scenery in the American Southwest and National Geographic Travel listed it as one of their must visit adventure destinations for 2019. This wonderland is a special place for hikers, explorers and photographers (especially astrophotography) and is the closest thing to Mars I have ever seen. If you are a photographer, give yourself several days to explore and photograph the endless abstracts, hoodoos, desert spires, arches and amazing formations.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail to this specific location as a 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to this location is a fairly easy 1 mile walk with no real elevation gain. However, you are walking through the badlands with no discernible trail and it is easy to get lost. The place where you are standing for this shot is a mound 10 ft or so above the ground and you could fall, but with careful foot placement it is an easy shot.
PLEASE NOTE: there are no amenities what-so-ever at, in or around the Bisti Badlands — no water, no picnic area, no restrooms, no Starbucks - nothing. So come prepared to be completely on your own. In the summer, the temperature can be very hot and there’s no shade for miles around. Make sure you have head cover and enough fluids and snacks for your time out hiking.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
6,500 Ft. Elevation
Google Earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Bisti North Parking area
The Bisti Badlands are in the middle of nowhere in northwestern New Mexico - with the closest town of Farmington, NM.
From Farmington
Travel south on NM-371 for 33.5 miles and turn left on a dirt road called Rd 7293 (you will see a sign for Bistahi Wilderness Church (formerly First Methodist Church). You will cross a cattle guard and stay on this dirt road for 1 mile.
At the next cattle guard, take a right and then veer left and continue on a modestly marked road/trail for about a 1/4 mile until you come to an open area (parking lot).
It would be very difficult to describe exact directions to the Wings and you could wonder/search for hours trying to find the exact location. I would strongly suggest downloading a GPS / hiking app to your smart phone and plot the GPS coordinates. The Bisti Badlands is a place you can easily get lost as there are no paths or trails.
The GPS / hiking apps I use is Gala GPS
Photography Tips
From a photography standpoint, this is a fairly straightforward shot. You are standing on a modest hill pointing forward at this unbelievable scene. Just find your right composition, make sure your focus is correct and wait for the right light.
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You can shoot this specific location (The Wings) at both sunrise or sunset. However, I much prefer sunset as the last glow of the sun produces a nice glow on the right side of the formations. The morning shot from this location can produce a nice morning sky, but the formation is not well illuminated until after the sky is blown out. I would suggest shooting it both times and choose your favorite.
The shot above was taken just before sunset (it was taken @ 7:51pm on a day the sun set @ 7:55pm).
Best Time of Year
The Bisti Badlands can be photographed any time of year. I have visited this location in the winter, spring and summer. I prefer spring to early summer because of the angle of the sun for sunset, the position of the Milky Way and the modest temperatures. This location is at 6,500 ft, so it can be very cold in the winter and there are no trees or other shade in the Badlands, so the summer can be overpowering during the day.
The above shot was taken on April 26th.
Lens(es) Needed
There are countless compositions in the Bisti Badlands and I would recommend bringing lenses that range from 16mm-100mm. The shot above was taken with a 50mm lens.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 47mm
Exposure – 45th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – 4/26
Time – 7:51 pm
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
The Bisti Badlands is on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and of this writing (July 2019) there were no permits required.
Direction of the Shot
There are limitless compositions in the Bisti Badlands. However, for this specific shot, you are facing north by northwest @ around 330°.
Equipment Needed
Other than a tripod, there is no need for any special photography equipment.
As mentioned, the hike to this location is a pretty easy 1-mile walk with no real elevation gain. However, the Badlands are EXTREMELY remote, with no trails and you can easily get lost. I would STRONGLY suggest bringing a GPS, hiking app or at least a compass to make sure you can find your way back. Also, there is no shade what-so-ever, so make sure you have enough fluids and snacks for your time out hiking.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The Bisti Badlands are remote, but you will see several visitors in the area on most days. The location of this shot is way off the beaten path and it would be rare to see others at this location.
Weather
The area around the Bisiti Badlands is high desert climate at about 6,500 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 Farmington, NM.
Overnight Camping Options
The Bisti Badlands is very remote and the closest town is Famington, NM (42 miles). There are many hotels there, but none anywhere near the Badlands.
As mentioned, the Bisti Badlands are BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and I believe you can camp there. However, there are no designated campsites nearby.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
BLM Land
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Comfort Suites Farmington, NM
(505) 325-9414
1951 Cortland Dr, Farmington, NM
Hampton Inn & Suites Farmington, NM
(505) 564-3100
1500 Bloomfield Blvd, Farmington, NM
Nearby Restaurants
The closest town is Farmington, NM (42 miles). Farmington is a moderate sized town with plenty of eating establishments. If you like traditional Mexican food, try Francisca’s. It is a small local restaurant and serves up some good grub.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Francisca’s
(505) 324-9095
1000 N Butler Ave, Farmington, NM
InfiniteBBQ
(505) 793-0319
1801 N Sullivan Ave, Farmington, NM
The Chile Pod
(505) 258-4585
121 W Main St, Farmington, NM