This New Mexico Destination Probably Looks ‘Homey’ for Aliens Because of Its Out-of-This-World Landscape

There are some destinations that will just make you ask, “What planet are we on again?” You’ll be surprised to see such beautiful, stunning, and at times, unbelievable landscapes that look like they shouldn’t be on earth. New Mexico definitely bags a lot of special places, and you need to see one now, pronto! If you are wondering where you should start, don’t worry! We know just the place! Learn more about Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness now.

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Is a Visual Delight With Hoodoos, Spires, and Some Fossils

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Did you know that you can find an area full of multicolored badlands in San Juan County, New Mexico? This must-visit destination is just between Chaco Canyon and the De-Na-Zin Wilderness. It is populated with different and amazing hoodoos, as well as some petrified wood and fossils.

The striking geology and the unusual landscape definitely earned people’s attention. If you look at it from afar (or even up close), you will think it is something out of a martian planet. There are plenty of mushroom-shaped hoodoos that loom above the earth. Hoodoos are not in any way connected to witchcraft because these are weathered rock formations.

On the other hand, the petrified tree and some ancient bones are also scattered throughout the badland – telling of the prehistoric tale of previous inhabitants. You will see it on the valley floor and logs along the edge of the badlands. If you look at it more closely, the intact piece of the wood would be surrounded by a small hill of little fragments. This results from the disintegration of a much larger part of the tree.

This Is a Famous Northwestern New Mexico Eye Candy You Won’t See Just Anywhere Else

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Not only is Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness such a badass place for its “general alien home” look. You will also come to admire it because it is such an eye candy. Geologically, the area is comprised of different layers of shale, sandstone, mudstone, and bituminous coal deposited over 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous era. That translates to 75,000 millennia of wind, water, and ice weathering and eroding the layers and setting up the perfect martian landscape.

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Look at this. It’s the alien throne – a statue meticulously carved by nature. The name is only fitting because it does seem like a throne Thanos would sit on.

Don’t think that this area doesn’t have any vegetation. It has vegetation, albeit little, and just doesn’t conceal its geological formations. You will find Great Basin scrubland, grassland, sagebrush, and pińon-juniper. The landscape is also filled with sandstone cap rocks and olive-colored hills. As you might have guessed, water in this area is also scarce.

What to Expect When You’re Out to Explore Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness

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If you want to explore this place, you can start by walking northeast through the hoodoos around the edge of the branched ravines. You will need to go west along the flat land at the side of the valley, then south towards anything that is worth taking a look at. Just be careful while walking, and feel free to find the best or most interesting formations that you would like to document.

Once done, you can just walk back up across the yellowish badlands lining the plateau rim. The eastwards hike will also pass three tributary ravines. These areas will treat you to stunning red and white hoodoos, as well as some scattered petrified logs, beneath grey-black badlands. Make your way past the ravines and a more colorful landscape will reveal itself – with patches of red, orange, and yellow in both the badlands and hoodoos.

Walk back along the top of the badlands to see a different view of the hoodoos, as well as a good look at the sandstone containing bands of yellow and orange. Here, the ground is relatively soft that the rainwater forms some vertical sinkholes in the hills and short caves in the ravines. This is why drainages are difficult to walk along.

Observe caution if you intend to traverse the area because the hillsides can be pretty steep and the surface, loose. The sinkholes may be covered by a thin roof layer and you might end up falling. If you want a more stable footing, you can hike along the edge of the plateau because it is grassy and sandy.

Legendary Dinosaur Hunter Charles Hazelius Sternberg Was Astounded by Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness When He First Saw It in 1921

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That’s right. No one is immune to the amazing beauty of Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness. Back in 1921, legendary dinosaur hunter Charles Hazelius Sternberg encountered the area and was thoroughly impressed. He hoped that the whole region would someday become a national park. While it didn’t exactly become that, at least it became a protected Wilderness Research Area in 1992.

Some of the land in Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is part of the Navajo Indian Reservation. On the other hand, there are also areas used for oil and gas drilling. It is empty, and access would be easy since there is a network of dirt roads criss-cross the desert.

Besides the badlands, hoodoos, and petrified wood, the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah region is a fruitful source of animal fossils. In fact, many dinosaur bones have been collected here over the last hundred years. How amazing is that? You can say that this place deserves a spot in the list of top-rated New Mexico destinations every traveler should visit!

What You Should Know

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• Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is relatively remote, and not a lot of visitors come here to visit. If you prefer a day of solitude at an otherworldly site, this is perfect for you!
• Bring out your inner geek and admire the geologic features of the place, such as the towering spires and mushroom-shaped hoodoos. The area is also rich with plant and animal fossils. You are standing on the land carrying remains of some prehistoric turtles, fish, crocodiles, and dinosaurs. The petrified wood in this area is also pleasing to the eyes. The numerous upright tree stumps with roots deserve a spot in your camera roll!
• It can be pretty challenging to get to this area because you need to drive almost 15 miles of unpaved road to the middle of nowhere. However, you will be rewarded with a dreamlike landscape that you will never forget.
• The geologic formations extend for six miles along the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wash. But if you are pressed for time and want to see the most picturesque formations, these are easily accessible and just within one to two miles of the parking area. You can explore it within half a day of walking along the flat terrain.
• Bring water to stay hydrated when hiking. There is also no cellphone coverage.
• There are no trails here, so you might find a GPS pretty handy in finding your way back to your vehicle. Remember to check the weather beforehand because the dirt roads and clay you will be hiking can become slick when wet.

Can You Take Home Something From This Area?

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is a Bureau of Land Management land. If you want to collect some resources, their regulations apply. You can collect common invertebrate fossils such as mollusks, plants, and trilobites for personal use. However, collection should only be in reasonable quantities.

For petrified wood, a person may collect up to 25 pounds per day. However, the cultural artifacts and vertebrate fossils, including dinosaur bones, cannot be taken under any circumstances.

How to Get Here

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1. From Bloomfield, New Mexico, drive US 550 south to NM 57.
2. Turn right and drive NM 57 for 18.3 miles. Only the first 4.9 miles are paved.
3. You will reach a small parking area on the right. It is marked by a sign. The 2-track road is blocked off so you need to follow it on foot to the starting point.

Latitude / Longitude: 36.16254556, -107.9164464
Location: Bloomfield, New Mexico

Have you been to Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness? Share your experience in the comments below!

If you want to take a look at other Martian-like landscapes, read the following: This Famous Canyon in Arizona Looks Like an Ideal Home for Aliens or Martians and These 12 Places in Arizona Will Make You Feel Like You’re on Another Planet.