Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness, Wilderness area in northwestern New Mexico, United States
Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness is a protected desert landscape in northwestern New Mexico with clay hills shaped by water erosion and colorful sandstone formations scattered across the terrain. The terrain feels like a natural gallery of sculpted rock formations created by millions of years of geological processes.
The area received federal protection in 2019 as a Wilderness Study Area to preserve its geological and fossil resources. This designation protects the ancient landscapes from future development activities.
Native American tribes have long considered this land sacred, with its formations and fossil deposits telling stories of ancient ecosystems and prehistoric life.
Reaching the site requires driving through remote desert roads, and there are no marked trails or visitor facilities within the area. Visitors should bring plenty of water, a capable vehicle, and navigation tools since the landscape offers little guidance and few services.
Visitors often find petrified wood fragments and visible dinosaur fossils scattered among the rock formations from different geological layers. These discoveries offer a direct window into life from millions of years ago.
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