Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
RV travelers who appreciate stark desert landscapes will enjoy exploring the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, a Bureau of Land Management destination with over 45,000 acres of rocky outcroppings and rich fossil beds. Visitors will find towering, cantilevered stone hoodoos, egg-like geological remnants, and huge petrified tree trunks as they wander through the silent badlands. There are no developed campgrounds, but dispersed camping is available in and around the wilderness area. You don’t need a reservation or an entry permit to visit.
Quick Facts About RVing in Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area
• RV Friendly: Limited • Max RV Length: 30 feet (recommended) • Camping Type: Primitive dispersed • Reservations: No • Hookups: None • Dump Station: None • Potable Water: Bring your own • Cell Service: Unreliable to none • Pets: Allowed if leashed • Roads: Unpaved dirt and gravel access roads • Best Seasons: Spring and fall
Why RV Travelers Love This BLM Area
• Breathtaking alien scenery • Unusual egg-like rock formations • Gorgeous orange, pink, and purple sunsets • Dark-sky stargazing with views of the Milky Way • Ideal for boondockers who love solitude • Wildlife watching opportunities • Great for photography • Accessible from NM-371 and CR 7297/CR 7500 or U.S. 550 and CR 7500 • Less than an hour away from Farmington and Bloomfield
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Bisti Badlands Trail
Enjoy hiking this loop trail traversing the wilderness area. It has a maximum elevation gain of about 200 feet and offers beautiful badland vistas. Length: 5.5 miles Intensity: Easy
Valley of Dreams Loop
This loop allows hikers to see wildlife living in the wilderness area. It also has breathtaking views worth photographing. Length: 3.7 miles Intensity: Moderate
Bisti Wings Trail
Explore this out-and-back trail cutting through a large area of unusual rock formations. Its terrain is mainly flat and easy to hike. Length: 2.8 miles Intensity: Easy
De-Na-Zin Trail
Hikers looking for a difficult but rewarding hike should try this trail. It boasts beautiful views and cuts through desert-wash vegetation and terrain. Length: 3.1 miles Intensity: Difficult
Bisti Wash Loop
Catch stunning badland views along this rugged terrain snaking through an expansive area of shrubs and hoodoos. Length: 7.1 miles Intensity: Moderate
Wildlife Viewing
This BLM site is home to a variety of wildlife species. Coyotes, foxes, prairie dogs, porcupines, cottontail rabbits, and pronghorns are common animals in the area. Look out for prairie falcons, doves, golden eagles, quails, ferruginous hawks, ravens, and other birds calling the wilderness home.
Picnicking
Picnicking is possible at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. The designated picnic areas include picnic tables, seats, and fire grills.
Fossil Collection
The Bisti and De-Na-Zin Badlands are rich in fossils from the Late Cretaceous Era. Apply for a fossil collection permit to engage in collecting fossil remains belonging to plants, reptiles, and dinosaurs.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
BLM RV camping is possible at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. Gallo Campground, which accommodates both tents and RV trailers, offers RV camping opportunities throughout the year. This campground comes with many amenities, including a dump station, picnic tables, fire grills, restrooms, and potable water.
Dispersed Camping
dispersed camping is allowed with certain restrictions. The only amenity is a vault toilet at the Bisti trailhead. FreeVehicles, including RVs, must park and camp in designated areas and are not allowed inside the wilderness boundary. Tent camping and backpacking are permitted throughout the wilderness area. Campers can stay for 14 days within a 28-consecutive-day period. Since the wilderness area has no cell phone coverage, Wi-Fi, or access to food, water, and fuel, you’ll need to pack all the supplies you’ll need. Bring emergency gear like an air compressor, a full-sized spare tire, and extra fuel, food, and drinking water. "Leave no trace" and take your waste with you. For more primitive camping tips, read our guide on RV water fill and dump stations. Be aware that campfires and generators are not allowed in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. All motorized mechanical equipment and activities involving combustion are banned. Mountain bikes and strollers are also prohibited. Portable gas or propane stoves with an on-off switch are allowed. Smoking is allowed in vegetation-free areas, but only if there are no seasonal fire restrictions in place.
Is This BLM Area Good for Your RV?
For a visit to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, smaller RV classes with 4WD, high clearance, and off-road capabilities tend to be the best. The dirt access roads have washboards and ruts that can be rough on standard vehicles, and they can be impassable when wet. Camper Vans and Class B RVs: Compact, high-clearance, 4WD camper vans and Class B RVs are good choices for crossing the dirt access roads to the wilderness area. Travel Trailers: Small to medium-sized travel trailers and fifth wheels are workable choices for visiting the wilderness area if you drive carefully in dry weather. Turnaround space is limited, and using a high-clearance, 4WD tow vehicle is advisable. Class A and Class C Motorhomes: Class A and Class C motorhomes are not ideal for visiting the wilderness area because they are large and difficult to maneuver on the site’s unpaved access roads. If the weather gets bad, these RVs can get stranded.
Free Camping 
Bureau of Land Management free camping opportunities are plenty at the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. Dispersed camping is permitted in the wilderness for 14 days. After this period, campers must move to a different site to avoid damage caused by staying in one place for a long time. Bring everything you'll need for dispersed camping since the wilderness has no amenities.
RV Rentals Near Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area Plan your next adventure
Planning your Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area BLM trip
Always plan your trip to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, knowing the area is a pure wilderness with no marked trails and facilities. Bring a compass or GPS unit to help navigate the wilderness. Early summer, late spring, and fall are the best times to visit Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area when the temperatures aren't too harsh. Always check the weather before visiting, and postpone your trip if there's rain in the forecast. Flash flooding is common in the area and can be dangerous. Make sure you wear and carry comfortable clothing based on the time you visit. Wearing clothes in layers is highly recommended because desert temperatures can vary wildly based on the time of day. Carry enough drinking water, cookware, sunscreen, and other essential items. This area restricts motorized vehicles, so no ATVs are allowed. Be sure that you're only parking in established parking lots, on flat, previously established dispersed camping sites, or on the side of the road. Climbing the delicate geological features, making campfires, and collecting fossils without a permit are also prohibited. Since Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area is shared with wildlife, guests must always be cautious and avoid interfering with nature. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
What RV Travelers Should Know Before Arriving
Visitors to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area should bring everything that they think that will need, including drinking water. You can refill water, purchase food, fuel, and camping supplies, and find dump stations in Farmington, about an hour away from the site. Since cell phone service is unavailable outside of town, use offline GPS maps or paper maps to find your way. Within the wilderness area, using a previously downloaded GPS app like Gaia GPS or All Trails can help you keep your bearings and prevent you from getting lost. Check the National Weather Service forecast for weather updates near Farmington. Bringing a dedicated battery-powered emergency or NOAA weather radio is also a good idea. Call the BLM Farmington District Office at (505) 564-7600 for updates on road conditions for CR 7297 and CR 7500 after bad weather. Check with the San Juan County Road Department for other local road advisories. The New Mexico State Police and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office coordinate all emergency and search and rescue operations.
Leave No Trace 
Guests visiting Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area must abide by all "Leave No Trace" policies set by BLM. Clean up after yourself to avoid littering the wilderness and preserve its natural qualities. Don't interfere with wildlife since the wilderness is their home, and you're just a guest. Always travel and camp on durable surfaces. Don't forget to be respectful and considerate of other visitors.
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area Location
Farmington is the nearest city to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. When in the city, drive west on W Bradway toward Nelson Ave and continue onto W Main St. Go left onto US-64 BYP E/W Murray Drive for about a mile and then turn right onto NM-371 S. Turn left onto Rd 7500/Is Rt 7023 and drive for about three miles. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area will be on the left side. Latitude and longitude: N 36.30331417, W 108.1151794 Ready to visit Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
Plan Your Day at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area
• Morning: Get up before sunrise, and make breakfast at camp. As the sky starts to lighten, grab your camera and start exploring the badlands as the sun rises. Spend your hike gazing at the Dali-esque stone hoodoos and the famous "Cracked Eggs" formation before temperatures rise. Since there are no official marked trails, make note of landmarks, track your path, and stay oriented. Respect the landscape, and avoid the temptation to move or collect fossils. • Afternoon: When the sun starts to blaze, head back to your RV for lunch and a nap. Check your supply levels, and use your radio to listen for storm alerts. This is also a great time to look through the pictures you took, do some journaling, or play a game of cards. • Evening: Once late afternoon sets in, get ready for a beautiful sunset, and watch the shadows move across the clay hills. Find a spot near your campsite to stargaze, and enjoy spectacular views of the Milky Way.
Nearby Attractions
The BLM lands at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area are an amazing destination for RV travelers who love desert escapes. It’s a great spot to take a break and experience the wonders of nature. While you’re visiting New Mexico, these attractions might interest you: Angel Peak Scenic Area: This BLM site celebrates Angel Peak, a 7,000-foot sandstone pinnacle formed during the Eocene period. You can picnic, hike, and enjoy dramatic views of canyons and towering clay cliffs. The scenic area is about 50 minutes to an hour northeast of the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area when you take US-550. Chaco Culture National Historical Park: This park provides you with a chance to see multistory Ancestral Pueblo "great houses" with over 600 rooms dating back to 850–1250 AD. You can also discover archaeological sites, including Chetro Ketl and Casa Rinconada. To reach the park, drive along NM-371, CR-7500, and US-550. The trip takes about 2.5 hours. Fifth Generation Trading Co.: This historic local spot is a great place to pick up an authentic piece of Native American art, pottery, or turquoise jewelry. You can also find native-made baskets, sand paintings, weavings, rugs, and more. The tracing company is in Farmington, about 40 minutes away when you take CR 7297 to NM-371 North.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are generators or campfires allowed in the wilderness area? To protect the delicate landscape, generators and campfires are strictly prohibited in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. Can I collect fossils or petrified wood in the wilderness area? Collecting and moving fossils or petrified wood in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area is not allowed. Leaving natural and cultural features undisturbed will allow new visitors to enjoy and photograph the site in the future. What should I wear to camp in the wilderness area? To camp safely and comfortably in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, you’ll need protective clothing and sturdy shoes for daytime and warm clothing at night. Bring a long-sleeved UV-protective shirt, lightweight hiking pants, insect repellent, and sturdy hiking boots. Also bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. At night, put on a fleece or down jacket. It’s also a good idea to bring thermal base layers, wool socks, a hat, and light gloves if you plan to stargaze outdoors. How can I stay safe in the wilderness area? The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area is a large, unfamiliar, and desolate space. New visitors can easily get lost, so bring a compass, use offline GPS navigation, mark your path, and familiarize yourself with landmarks in the area. Watch the weather closely, and bring a radio to track storm alerts. What kind of camping gear do I need in the wilderness area? To camp in the wilderness area, you must be self-sufficient. Bring plenty of food and water, reliable navigation tools, extra power or battery banks, a first aid kit, sun and wind protection, and a flashlight. If you want to stargaze or camp outside, pack a lightweight tent or shelter, heavy-duty tape, and a ground pad and sleeping bag.
Rent the Right RV for This Trip
When you’re preparing for a trip to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, renting the right RV is key to having a safe and unforgettable off-grid adventure. Taking a compact, high-clearance, 4WD Class B camper van is the perfect choice for boondocking off the trailhead. Smaller rigs are also great for exploring other destinations in New Mexico and Colorado, including White Sands National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. To book your vehicle, visit our RV rentals in Farmington page ahead of your journey to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area.