Tres Amigos
Bisti Badlands, Northwest New Mexico
TRES AMIGOS
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF TRES AMIGOS
The Bisti Badlands offer some of the most unusual scenery in the American Southwest. This completely unworldly place was once a coastal swamp of an inland sea and is a unique place for both hikers and photographers. If you are a photographer, try to give yourself several days to explore and photograph the endless abstracts, hoodoos, desert spires, arches and amazing formations.
I like to make-believe things are happening in many of my photos and there is nowhere better to play pretend than at the badlands of New Mexico. I called this image Tres Amigos because I saw it as three friends wearing sombreros and joining the party going on in the background.
Photo and assistance with location summary by Rob Strain.
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH TRES AMIGOS SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of the trail to this specific location as a 2-3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to this location is a fairly straightforward 2.2-mile walk with no real elevation gain. However, you are walking through the badlands with no discernible trails and it is easy to get lost and heat in the warmer months can be strenuous.
Avoid hiking into Bisti Badlands following any appreciable rain as the clay becomes very slippery, injury is possible and your footprints/foot slides will ruin your pictures the following days. Expect mud in the bottom of the many small washes for several days after rain or winter snowmelt.
PLEASE NOTE: there are no amenities whatsoever while hiking in the Bisti Badlands. 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 a headcover and enough fluids and snacks for your time out hiking.
I had been out the evening before to the same area where I took this shot but ended up half a mile away to shoot the iconic wings area for sunset. This helped me know a bit where I was going in the dark the next morning. Still, I thought I might shoot the nearby “eggs”, but arriving early gave me time to explore a bit further. The result was that there were so many interesting scenes in the next cove …
There are countless compositions in the Bisti Badlands and I would recommend bringing lenses that range from 16mm-100mm.
The above image was taken 16mm
5,825 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
