The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands - New Mexico
The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands are located in the north western section of New Mexico north of Chaco Canyon and east of The Bisti Badlands.
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During my last trip to New Mexico the The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands was the number one spot on my itinerary. I drove all night to get there but first passed my time at Chaco canyon until later in the afternoon. It was only about an hours drive from Chaco to get to the trail head leading into the rock formations of The Ah-shi-sle-pah.
The road in is rough and can be really muddy during any rains in the area. I do have a 4WD vehicle and it was pretty dry when I was going in and never had any problems. I saw a couple come in with a compact economy car so most everyone can make it to the area. You will just need to take it slow for all the pot holes and wash boarded areas in the road.
The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands are much like the Bisti Badlands only a little hint of color in the rocks here. Hoodoos are all over the place and great you at the trail head as you start your decent into the main wash area.
The park rangers actually had a brochure with GPS coordinates to The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands. I already had mine programmed into my GPS, but theirs gave better coordinates to specific rock formations. I was particularly wanting to find the yellow group of hoodoos in the areas and as luck would have it, it was on the brochure. I would have never found this formation without them. My coordinates were off from the info I had gathered off the internet so I felt grateful after I had found them. I basically sat in this location until the light was right.
As the afternoon sun was getting warmer we had small isolated storms popping up. I was extremely happy about getting the small rainbow in a few of my shots. Typically I never travel to the desert this late at the beginning of summer. It gets pretty hot and will drain you. But there was another time I traveled this late into the Bisti Badland area and was graced with isolated storms in the area for great atmospheric conditions. I have traveled to Bisti three different times. I only scratched the surface exploring The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands. So I know I will be back when it is cooler. Typically I like the fall and early spring time for my desert hikes.
Drop me an email if I can help you with your own travels to The Ah-shi-sle-pah Badlands. I've helped numerous other people looking for locations in the south west and I am always glad yo help.