New Mexico is home to a stunning array of outlandish rock formations that are truly worth every mile of hiking and rough driving. Here are 12 of the most remarkable rock formations and geological wonders in the state:
12 Outlandish New Mexico Rock Formations
- Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
A surreal badlands area in northwestern New Mexico filled with bizarre hoodoos, spires, and fossil remains, offering an almost otherworldly landscape to explore with no formal trails. - Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Famous for its cone-shaped volcanic rock formations and slot canyons, this area offers beautiful hiking trails with stunning summit views that feel almost lunar. - Shiprock
A striking volcanic rock spire rising sharply from the desert floor, considered sacred by the Navajo, with guided tours providing cultural insights. - Bandelier National Monument
Known for ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings carved into soft volcanic tuff cliffs, alongside trails through volcanic and forested landscapes. - El Malpais National Monument
Features vast lava flows, sandstone cliffs, natural arches, and ice caves, showcasing a rugged volcanic terrain ideal for adventurous exploration. - Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Famous for massive underground chambers filled with limestone formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and spectacular bat flights at dusk. - Lybrook Badlands
Part of the San Juan Basin, this remote area features multi-layered rock formations and numerous hoodoos scattered across steep terrain, perfect for adventurous hikers. - Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness
A remote wilderness with princess-like hoodoos, surreal rock shapes, and colorful sediment layers offering a quiet and alien landscape for hikers. - Wheeler Peak Wilderness
Home to New Mexico’s highest peak with beautiful rock outcrops along hiking trails, alpine meadows, and panoramic mountain views. - Taos Mountain Trail
A scenic high-altitude route climbing through rugged terrain with stunning rock formations and alpine meadows, culminating in incredible summit vistas. - Ojito Wilderness
Contains volcanic rock formations and unique desert landscapes with fewer visitors, providing a peaceful hiking experience amid striking geology. - Burnham Badlands
Known for sharp ridges, colorful sediment layers, and unusual hoodoos, the Burnham Badlands offer dramatic views and a variety of quirky rock structures.
These locations combine natural beauty, unusual geology, and opportunities for hiking and exploration in remote, rugged settings—making them among the most outlandish and memorable rock formations in New Mexico.
SOURCES
(https://www.trailgroove.com/blogs/entry/440-hiking-the-hoodoos-badlands-of-northwestern-new-mexico/)(https://www.blm.gov/visit/bisti-de-na-zin-wilderness)
(https://globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/north-america/top-15-of-the-most-beautiful-places-to-visit-in-new-mexico/)
(https://boardingpasstraveler.com/2021/01/19/exploring-otherworldly-landscapes-in-northern-new-mexico/)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIwj4VfxI9c)
