Equestrian Camping in the West — Horse Campgrounds, Trails & Riding Info
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Bisti Badlands Petrified Trees

Riding here is what I’d imagine it would be like on the moon. Lots of gray landscape with what almost resembles dunes.

Found in 1 campground.

Trail features

Exposed areasLimited shade

Horse camping for Bisti Badlands Petrified Trees

This ride was mostly wandering around and just enjoying the landscape and scenery. It took us up and around on the way to the “Petrified Wood.” We stopped by my favorite spot, the “Cracked Eggs,” then crossed the “Flat Top” area and headed back to camp. All of the mentioned spots can be seen on the map in Gaia.

States where this trail appears

Campgrounds mentioning Bisti Badlands Petrified Trees

Bisti Badlands

Farmington, NMView details
Amenities Available
WaterPensHighlinesTurnoutStoreDump Station
Bring * Set up your own * Allowed
WaterPensHighlinesElectric Fencing
Hookups
WaterElectricSewer
00
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Overview

The Bisti Badlands (Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness) is a completely unique riding experience in northwestern New Mexico, about 40 miles south of Farmington. This isn’t a traditional campground—it’s a remote, undeveloped wilderness known for its surreal, moon-like landscape filled with hoodoos, petrified wood, and dramatic desert formations.

This is not a place you go for campground amenities. It’s a place you go for scenery and the experience. If you’re looking for something truly different, this area is well worth the effort.

Access

Access is via State Highway 371 followed by a gravel road leading into the wilderness area. The location is remote, and navigation is important.

The pin on the map reflects the exact spot where we set up camp, which can be helpful since there are no designated campground areas or marked equestrian sites.

Equestrian

There are no designated equestrian facilities, so you’ll need to bring your own horse containment setup.

The ground is extremely hard, making it difficult or impossible to drive in standard hot wire posts. Plan accordingly with a setup that works in hard desert conditions.

This is more of a basecamp-and-explore type location rather than a traditional ride-out-from-camp setup with maintained trails.

Important Notes

There are no designated campsites, no water, and no amenities. You must be fully self-sufficient.

This is a remote wilderness area, so proper planning is essential, including navigation, water, and horse containment.

Come prepared for a completely undeveloped experience—this is about the landscape, not campground comforts.

Map & Directions
Destination: 36.266177, -108.252097