Farmington

A Four Corners base where Aztec Ruins is part of the Chaco Culture World Heritage Site and the Bisti Badlands' hoodoos and the Shiprock volcanic neck look otherworldly.

Farmington is in San Juan County in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, at the confluence of the San Juan, Animas and La Plata rivers. It is the largest city in the Four Corners region (where New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona meet), with an economy built on oil and gas, and it borders the Navajo Nation. For travelers, it's a base for exploring Ancestral Puebloan ruins and badlands rock formations. Sights lie in four directions: to the northeast, Aztec Ruins and Salmon Ruins (Aztec Ruins is part of the Chaco Culture World Heritage Site); about 60 km east, Navajo Lake and the San Juan River fly-fishing waters below the dam; to the south, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, Angel Peak and the Valley of Dreams, with Chaco Culture National Historical Park farther south; and about 50 km west, Shiprock, a mountain sacred to the Navajo, with Four Corners Monument beyond to the northwest. The best seasons are Apr–May and Sep–Oct; summer days are hot with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and the ground in the badlands gets extremely hot; winters are cold, and dirt roads become difficult after rain or snow. Getting there: Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington has very few flights, so most visitors rent a car in Albuquerque (about 3 hours' drive) or Durango, Colorado (about 1 hour). Nearly every sight requires a car, and the badlands and Chaco are reached on gravel and dirt roads, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended, along with plenty of fuel and water. Plan on 2–3 days; the area is often combined with Mesa Verde and Durango on a Four Corners loop. Note: Bisti and the Valley of Dreams have no trails and no cell signal, so be sure to download offline maps and GPS coordinates in advance; Shiprock is sacred to the Navajo and may only be viewed from a distance, and visitors to the reservation must follow tribal regulations.

Top sights

• Aztec Ruins National Monument – A large settlement built by the Ancestral Puebloans about 900 years ago, part of the Chaco Culture World Heritage Site. Visitors can enter…
• Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness – An otherworldly badlands of mushroom rocks, 'Cracked Eggs' and coloured mudstone hills. It is one of the most sought-after hidden corners f…
• Shiprock – A volcanic neck rising nearly 500 m from the flat desert, shaped like a sailing ship. It is a sacred mountain of the Navajo Nation and a la…
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park – One of the most important ancient sites in North America and a World Heritage Site. Great houses such as Pueblo Bonito reveal astronomical…
• Salmon Ruins & Heritage Park – A “Great House” outlier of the Chaco culture, built around 1090, with a museum and a heritage park that show Navajo and pioneer life.
• Angel Peak Scenic Area – Overlooking gray and ochre badlands, with twin peaks in the distance resembling outstretched angel wings. It is the most convenient wildern…
• Navajo Lake State Park – New Mexico's second-largest lake, with blue water set among red sandstone mesas. It is a popular summer destination for boating, fishing, a…
• San Juan River Quality Waters – A cold river stretch below Navajo Dam with an exceptionally high density of trout. It is considered one of America's top fly-fishing destin…
• Valley of Dreams (Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area) – Another strange rock wilderness south of Bisti, where unusual stone pillars such as the “King of Wings” and the “Alien Throne” stand scatte…
• Farmington Museum at Gateway Park – Farmington's municipal museum, focused on oil and gas development in the Four Corners region, trading posts, and the town's history. Admiss…

Where to eat

• Three Rivers Eatery & Brewhouse – A locally owned craft brewhouse on historic downtown's main street, known for its green chile chicken lasagna, top-rank…
• Sí Señor – A family-run New Mexican restaurant operating for more than 20 years, roasting Hatch chiles in-house and serving homema…

Itineraries

• Four Corners Ancestral Puebloan Loop – An Albuquerque-based loop through the Four Corners region, featuring cliff dwellings, narrow-gauge railroads, Monument…