Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

United States of America

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a 45,000-acre (18,000 ha) wilderness area located in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Established in 1984, the Wilderness is a desolate area of steeply eroded badlands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, except three parcels of private Navajo l

and within its boundaries. The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, signed March 12, 2019, expanded the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness by approximately 2,250 acres. Translated from the Navajo word Bistahí, Bisti means "among the adobe formations". De-Na-Zin, from Navajo Dééł Náázíní, translates as "Standing Crane". Petroglyphs of cranes have been found south of the Wilderness. It is on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, one of the designated New Mexico Scenic Byways.

Listen to the audio guide for Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off