The 'Alien Egg Hatchery' in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

© Ian Shive/Tandem Stills + Motio

Welcome to the 'Alien Egg Hatchery'

The otherworldly rock formations in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness inspired some creative names—such as the 'Alien Egg Hatchery' seen in this photo. More than 70 million years ago, this desert was a tidal swamp along the shore of the long-evaporated Western Interior Seaway that once bisected North America. A diverse array of sediment and rock was deposited by the waters, and after the seaway retreated, the rocks remained.

Today these inspiring desert landscapes are a protected area thanks to the Wilderness Act of 1964. If you're planning a road trip along any of New Mexico's Scenic Byways, make time for the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, which will take you directly to Bisti/De-Na-Zin.