The Valley Of Dreams In New Mexico’s Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Look Like Something From Another Planet

Isolated, colorful, and surreal. New Mexico's alien-like badlands are a dream to see in photos or in person. In fact, there is one aptly named location that, upon seeing, will feel like you've been transported to another world. Come see why we suspect the badlands of New Mexico are among the most beautiful places in New Mexico - it. Is. Magical.

Welcome to the Valley of Dreams.

This unusual landscape is just one small part of the more than 6,500 acres in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness in northern New Mexico.

Visiting Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is an isolating trek.

It is located about 2.5 hours northwest of Albuquerque via US-550 and a tiny dirt road that runs for 12 miles before arriving. Don't expect signage, parking lots, or even marked trails; this area is remote and undeveloped, perfect for a chance to unplug and disconnect from modern life for a few hours.

The name, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah, is derived from the Navajo words áshįįh łibá.

This translates to "gray salt," describing just one aspect of the landscape: the gray, rolling landscape that looks like water frozen in time.

Other parts are significantly more colorful. The clay terrain is layered with stripes of white, rust, and olive.

The landscape is covered in hoodoos, toadstools, pinnacles, and washes, each appearing more alien than the next.

Nature carved the clay badlands over millennia using just water and air, creating some bizarre yet beautiful views.

When do you plan to pay a visit to this dreamy landscape?

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is located in northern New Mexico, just north of Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

It can be accessed via US-550 and NM-57 near Nageezi. For specific driving instructions and additional details, visit the BLM website, Facebook page, or call 505-564-7600 for more information.

The Valley of Dreams is just the start of a long list of surreal landscapes scattered across the Land of Enchantment. You can read about a few more scenic locations in this article featuring eight breathtaking places in New Mexico that could be straight from a Dr. Seuss book.