The Four Corners Area - American Southwest - page 132

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Northern New Mexico,” p. 272. The park is 40 miles east of Farmington on NM 511.
Call & 505/632-2278 for more information.
Not far from the park, Wines of the San Juan, 233 NM 511 at Turley ( & 505/632-
0879; www.winesofthesanjuan.com), offers wine tastings and sells bottles of wines rang-
ing from merlot to malvasia bianca. Call ahead to find out about the Sunday programs
offered spring through fall, which might include flamenco guitar. The last weekend in
September, the winery holds a festival featuring several bands and arts-and-crafts booths.
The tasting room is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday noon to 6pm.
Closed Tuesday.
Angel Peak Recreation Area
The distinctive pinnacle of 6,991-foot Angel Peak can often be spotted from the hillsides
around Farmington. The area offers a short nature trail and a variety of unusual, colorful
geological formations and canyons to explore on foot. The Bureau of Land Management
has developed a primitive campground with nine campsites and provided picnic tables in
a few spots (no drinking water provided). The park is about 35 miles south of Farming-
ton on US 550; the last 6 miles of access, after turning off US 550, are over a graded dirt
road. For park information, call & 505/599-8900.
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Often referred to as Bisti Badlands (pronounced Bist- eye ), this barren region may merit
that name today, but it was once very different. Around 70 million years ago, large dino-
saurs lived near what was then a coastal swamp bordering a retreating inland sea. Today,
their bones, and those of fish, turtles, lizards, and small mammals, are eroding slowly
from the low shale hills.
Kirtland Shale, containing several bands of color, dominates the eastern part of the
wilderness and caps the mushroom-shaped formations found there. Along with the spires
and fanciful shapes of rock, hikers may find petrified wood sprinkled in small chips
throughout the area, or even an occasional log. Note: Removing petrified wood, fossils,
or anything else from the wilderness is prohibited.
Hiking in the Bisti is fairly easy; from the small parking lot, follow an arroyo east 2 or
3 miles into the heart of the formations, which you'll see on your right (aim for the two
red hills). The De-Na-Zin Wilderness to the east requires more climbing and naviga-
tional skills. It has no designated trails, bikes and motorized vehicles are prohibited, and
it has no water or significant shade. The hour just after sunset or, especially, just before
sunrise is a pleasant and quite magical time to see this starkly beautiful landscape.
Primitive camping is allowed (bring plenty of water and supplies).
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is just off NM 371, 37 miles south of Farmington. For
more information, call the Bureau of Land Management at & 505/599-8900.
WHERE TO STAY IN & AROUND FARMINGTON &
AZTEC
Courtyard by Marriott Kids This newer hotel provides elegant rooms and all the
amenities of a full-service inn, with the consistency you'd expect from Marriott. The
expansive lobby overlooking Riverwalk Park is decorated in a Southwestern style. Just off
it is a quiet lounge and a restaurant. The style carries into the rooms. They are spacious
with comfortable beds and medium-size bathrooms with outer vanities. Southwestern
landscape paintings adorn the walls. The suites are large and contain one bedroom and

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