Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, nestled in the high desert of New Mexico, is a surreal landscape that spans 45,000 acres. The remote and rugged landscape is known for its otherworldly rock formations, towering hoodoos, and colorful badlands. Translated from the Navajo language, Bisti (Bis-tie) means "a large area of shale hills." De-Na-Zin (Deh-nah-zin) takes its name from the Navajo words for "cranes." The wilderness preserves a rich geological history, with fossils of ancient creatures embedded in rock formations made of interbedded sandstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and silt. It's a photographer's paradise, especially during sunrise and sunset, when the desert's hues transform into a breathtaking palette of reds, oranges, and purples.