In the market for a little outdoor fun? We’ve got you covered with some of North America’s most fascinating wilderness areas, national parks/monuments, and historical sites. The Bisti Badlands/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, with its otherworldly hoodoos and rock formations, covers 45,000 acres and is home to golden eagles, hawks, and falcons as well as a number of prehistoric fossils including the Bisti Beast, an early relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Step back in time at Aztec Ruins National Monument, where you can explore ancestral dwellings and kivas, or venture to Chaco Culture National Historical Park to see massive stone buildings constructed by Ancestral Puebloans. Once the ceremonial, political and economic center for Chacoan culture, Chaco Culture NHP is currently part of the National Park Service’s Night Sky Program and is an International Dark Sky Park, a designation by the International Dark-Sky Association. It is an optimal location to connect with your inner astronomer.
For adventure junkies, Farmington has everything, from extreme rock crawling on slick rock and sandy dunes with local off-road outfitters, to cooling off with a float along the Animas or San Juan Rivers. A favorite amongst kayakers and rafters, the Animas River Whitewater Park often has Class I and II rapids for adventurers to enjoy. Looking for calmer waters? You can also enjoy a more leisurely float on other sections of the river, or explore Lake Farmington, which offers relaxing floats in a kayak or on a paddle board—perfect for beginners. This family-friendly locale is ideal for splashing around and cooling off in the fresh air.
Farmington boasts incredible shopping with one-of-a-kind pieces only found in New Mexico. Our trading posts featuring Native American arts and jewelry and our unique art galleries will ensure you bring home extraordinary souvenirs from your experiences in town. Farmington is also home to unique annual events, including Four Corners 4×4 Week and World Extreme Rock Grand Nationals. These events, which take place the first week of September, bring the best extreme rock crawlers to town to battle it out at Farmington’s Chokecherry Canyon. It also offers trail rides for off-road enthusiasts, and a parts swap. For mountain bikers, the Road Apple Rally mountain biking competition will celebrate its 42nd year in October and has the unique distinction of being the longest continually run mountain bike race in the United States. For travelers looking to slow down a little, you can enjoy our art walks and seasonal farmers’ and makers‘ markets, which take place all summer long and into the fall.
