There are a plethora of interesting rock formations in the Bisti Badlands of northern New Mexico. I came across this mushroom looking one in a lonesome canyon and thought it looked cool.
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.
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.
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.
Above the De-Na-Zin Wilderness
The De-Na-Zin Wilderness in northwest New Mexico is a fantastic location to get away from civilization. The desert is so unique here on the Navajo Reservation. The sun was near setting on this evening in late autumn. Teig and I had hiked all day in the canyons seen below and were now enjoying the evening with a beer in hand a no other soul for miles. This was heaven on earth!