There are numerous rock fields to explore at Bisti Badlands in New Mexico. We came across this one and loved these twisted unique rocks in a basin. Sauntering in this surreal landscape is uber fun and fulfilling.
Resting in the Shade of Bisti Rocks
Tieg loves to find shade in rocks and watch me as I work a landscape scene. He will lay there and watch me until I finish and start to pack my backpack. He was especially relaxed in these Bisti Badlands rocks near the end of a day hiking on the Navajo reservation.
Red Table Top Rocks in Bisti Badlands
These beautiful rock formations are found in Bisti Badlands on the Navajo Reservation in Northwestern New Mexico. Teig and I love exploring this wonderful location whenever we are close to my home town of Farmington. It is a great day hike location especially in November, which was when we were here for this shoot.
Cabezon Sunset
Cabezon Peak is one of the best-known and most visible landmarks in northwest New Mexico. Cabezon is located about 75 miles northwest of Albuquerque. This giant volcanic plug is visible for tens of miles in all directions, and as far away as Placitas. Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish, and it is aptly named. It is the largest of several dozen widely scattered rocky monoliths, called the Rio Puerco necks. Rising above the Rio Puerco valley floor, they are some of the best-preserved examples of volcanic necks in the world. The craggy black peaks stand in sharp contrast to the sparsely vegetated, buff-colored lowlands from which they emerge. Mt. Taylor looms majestically to the southwest, Mesa Prieta borders the valley to the east, and the Jemez Mountains are visible to the north. This starkly beautiful landscape is unique in New Mexico. At an elevation of 7,786 ft, Cabezon Peak towers more than 1,100 ft above its base, and 2,000 ft above the Rio Puerco nearby.
Red Sandstone Formation at Valley of Fire
Teig and I were exploring off-trail in the Valley of fire State Park in Southern Nevada. The red rock formations are beautiful even in full winter sun. The bright red Aztec sandstone is from the Jurassic period and is the remnant of the sand left behind by the wind after inland seas subsided and the land rose.
Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees
Teig and I made an excursion trip to Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. We were thrilled we made that choice. The mountains there are exquisite with bright red and orange faces on the sheer cliffs. I was surprised to see these mountains a stones throw from Vegas. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get a photo of Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees… I do love colorful mountain faces and Joshua Trees!
Lone Raven Perched above Chaco Canyon
We were exploring the rim of Chaco Canyon when we came across this raven perched on the canyon wall hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Teig and I sat near him and he was not bothered by us. I loved his dark form contrasted to beautiful canyon walls. It was calming to watch him relax an the rims edge and the vast canyons stretch into the distance.
Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon
Waking up to a beautiful sunrise and this view in Chaco Canyon National Monument gets me motivated to saunter around the Colorado Plateau in northwest New Mexico.
Pueblo Pintado Two Story Ruins
Hidden on the Navajo Reservation in northern New Mexico is the Pueblo Pintado historical ruins. 16 miles east of Pueblo Bonito, Pueblo Pintado is the easternmost of the Chacoan great houses in the immediate Chaco Canyon area. Archaeologists call Pueblo Pintado a “Chacoan great house,” a civic and ceremonial center utilized by many surrounding communities. The structure is a massive L-shaped building, open to the SE. The building is terraced, from 3 stories on the outside corner to the single-story enclosed kivas (round, semisubterranean ceremonial chambers) on the interior corner. About 20 single-story rooms enclose the plaza and a large enclosed kiva. The entire great house contained 90 groundfloor rooms, 40 second-story rooms, and 5 third-story rooms. A hundred feet southeast of the building is a subterranean great kiva 58 feet in diameter. Most of the construction occurred at A.D. 1060-1061, during Chaco’s peak construction period, with a later reoccupation in the 1200s.
Dirt Road to Cerro De Guadalupe
Our view sauntering on the 4x4 roads near Cabezon, New Mexico. Cerro De Guadalupe is one of the ancient volcanic formations that are extremely fascinating in the area. There is a numerous backcountry roads and tons of space to explore in this high desert region on the Colorado Plateau.
Badlands Faux Dino Rock
Exploring the Bisti Badlands in Northwest New Mexico is like exploring a “martian world”. The scenery is other worldly with wonderful rock formations covering the landscape. This specific specimen reminded me of a large dinosaurs vertebrae. Just imagine coming upon a dino vertebrae in the middle of the desert…. Wouldn’t that be a blast!
Cerro Chato Volcanic Peak
The ancient volcanic peaks in the Cabezon region of New Mexico are astounding to witness first hand. Exploring this area is worthwhile with few visitors and fantastic views of the New Mexico deserts and mountains. Teig and I love to get “lost” in the desert southwest.
Shadows in the Bisti Badlands
We experienced this wonderful landscape exploring the Bisti Badlands on the Navajo Reservation in northwest New Mexico. The rock formations are mesmerizing and a saunter out into the wilderness can create a sensation of freedom. Teig and I love this area and the serenity it allows for us and there is a plethora to explore that you can spend a week and constantly experience a new landscape on every turn.
Rio Puerco Volcanic Necks
Cabezon Peak is one of the best-known and most visible landmarks in northwest New Mexico. This giant volcanic plug is visible for tens of miles in all directions. Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish, and it is aptly named. It is the largest of several dozen widely scattered rocky monoliths, called the Rio Puerco necks. Rising above the Rio Puerco valley floor, they are some of the best-preserved examples of volcanic necks in the world. The craggy black peaks stand in sharp contrast to the sparsely vegetated, buff-colored lowlands from which they emerge.The Jemez Mountains are visible to the north. This starkly beautiful landscape is unique in New Mexico. At an elevation of 7,786 ft, Cabezon Peak towers more than 1,100 ft above its base, and 2,000 ft above the Rio Puerco nearby.
Chaco Canyon Pueblo Alto Ruins
Exploring the Pueblo Alta trail on the mesa at Chaco Canyon leads you to a wonderful ruin sitting lonely on the crest of a hill. Pueblo Alto Ruins are the highest ruins in the park and don’t have the pressure of tourists as the others because you have to climb a winding trail up the canyon walls then a couple mile stretch of the legs to the ruins but it is well worth the trip. I made it there in the early afternoon on a beautiful fall day just before Thanksgiving.
Cliffs above Pueblo Bonito
Teig and I spent an autumn day exploring Chaco Canyon National Monument in northwest New Mexico. We hiked the desert mesa and learned about the Anasazi Indians that settled the area between 800 and 1400 ad. We decided to hike the cliffs above one of the main pueblos. We were surprised by this beautiful view from a few hundred feet above Pueblo Bonito. We truly love New Mexico and it’s wonderful history, culture and landscape.
Lybrook Badlands Cave
Teig and I spent the day sauntering through one of the unique San Juan Basins Badlands. This citadel formation had a cave into it which was very interesting. I climbed up and peered into it. I was not brave enough to explore to deep for fear of a cave in. It appeared quite fragile but uber cool.
Gold in Lybrook Badlands
Exploring one of the San Juan Basin Badlands near sunset I ventured into a wash a came upon this beautiful scene full of gold color. Lybrook Badlands is a remote location where a person can get away from civilization and explore strange rock formations and study the ancient geologic record. Fossil hunting is fun but I would never keep them but leave them for others to enjoy.
Desert Storm near Abiquiu
Nothing better than a late afternoon desert storm in northern New Mexico. If you never seen a storm with the sun shining on you in the desert southwest, you need to add it to your bucket list. This one was outside of Abiquiu and brought a smile to my face.
Lybrook NM Badlands
We explored this badlands which is not well known. Lybrook is in northwest New Mexico on the Navajo Indian Reservation. I was surprised how rugged and beautiful the rock formation were with numerous hoodoos and arches. We spent a whole day exploring some of the canyons and cliffs. It was well worth the time spent.