Every once in a while, I stumble across a place that makes me question why millions of people stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the same famous landmarks while somewhere like this sits almost completely unnoticed.
This is one of those places.
If you asked me to name my favorite hidden gem in the American Southwest, I wouldn't hesitate.
It's Bisti Badlands.
In fact, I almost don't want more people to know about it.
Hidden Gems Are Becoming Harder to Find
Social media has a way of ruining great places.
The moment somewhere becomes "Instagram famous," the crowds follow. Parking lots overflow, people line up for the exact same photo, and before long the feeling of discovery disappears.
That's exactly why I appreciate Bisti so much.
When I visit a place, I don't want to feel like I'm waiting in line at an amusement park. I want silence. I want to hear the wind instead of conversations. I want to feel like I've actually discovered something.
Bisti delivers that feeling better than almost anywhere I've photographed.
This Doesn't Feel Like Earth
I've traveled thousands of miles across North America photographing mountains, forests, coastlines, deserts, and cities.
Very few landscapes have genuinely made me stop and think, "Where am I?"
Standing in Bisti, I honestly felt like I had stepped onto the surface of the moon.
Every direction is filled with colorful hoodoos, twisted sandstone, bizarre rock formations, and ancient fossil-bearing layers that look like they belong on another planet.
No matter how many photos I took, they never quite captured what it felt like standing there.
Some places photograph beautifully.
This place has to be experienced.
The Hike Was Worth Every Step
I carried my camera gear for over 10 miles through loose dirt, washes, and uneven terrain.
Was I tired?
Absolutely.
Would I do it again tomorrow?
Without question.
Photography isn't always glamorous. Nobody sees the heavy backpack, the heat, the miles on your feet, or the constant climbing. They only see the finished image.
But every photograph I came home with reminded me why I love landscape photography in the first place.
The harder you work for an image, the more it means.
My Favorite Part Isn't the Landscape
This might surprise you.
As incredible as the scenery is, the emptiness is what keeps bringing me back.
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness covers approximately 45,000 acres, yet you can spend hours walking without seeing another person.
That is becoming increasingly rare.
For a few hours, there are no traffic noises, no notifications, no crowds trying to squeeze into your photo.
Just you and one of the strangest landscapes on Earth.
Honestly, I wish more destinations stayed this way.
Don't Underestimate This Place
The wilderness is enormous.
With very few marked trails and countless washes cutting through the landscape, it's incredibly easy to lose your bearings.
Ask me how I know.
I managed to get lost out here.
Everything worked out in the end, but that adventure deserves its own story. Let's just say I have an even greater respect for this place now than when I first arrived.
Getting Here Is Part of the Adventure
Part of what keeps Bisti feeling so untouched is that getting here takes a little effort.
Located about 35 miles south of Farmington in Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, you'll leave the pavement behind for roughly two miles before reaching the trailhead.
The road is unpaved, and after rain or snow it can become muddy enough that I'd strongly recommend a high-clearance vehicle.
Frankly, I think that's a good thing.
Easy access usually means bigger crowds.
Sometimes a little inconvenience is exactly what preserves a place.
Come Prepared
This isn't the kind of destination where you decide to "just wing it."
The parking area is simple, with a dirt lot, a shaded picnic area, accessible parking spaces, and an information kiosk.
From there, you'll enter the wilderness through a narrow opening in a metal fence.
Then you're on your own.
Bring more water than you think you'll need.
Download offline maps before you leave home.
Wear good hiking shoes.
Most importantly, don't expect your phone to save you. Cell service ranges from poor to nonexistent throughout the wilderness.
Nature doesn't care how much battery life you have.
Why Bisti Sits at the Top of My List
I've photographed places that receive millions of visitors every year.
Many deserve the recognition.
But I'd choose Bisti over quite a few of them.
Not because it's bigger.
Not because it's more famous.
Because it still feels like an adventure.
It still rewards curiosity.
It still makes you work for the experience.
Those are the places I remember long after I get home.
And those are the places I'll always choose to photograph.
As for how I got myself lost in 45,000 acres of badlands...
That's a story for another day.
