Area Description

It contains the Split Lip Flats and Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah inventory units, which are separated only by a county-maintained dirt road. Broad sage and grass plains roll across much of the complex. Split Lip Flats has a long ridge in its eastern portion that contains petrified trees, while in the southern portion of Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah colorful fossiliferous badlands, enhanced by spires, towers, mushroom shaped hoodoos, and other geologic oddities can be found. The scenic badlands and geologic oddities in the Greater Bisti Complex are formed from two late Cretaceous sedimentary formations, the Kirtland Shale and Fruitland Formation, both of which were formed in a shallow inland sea that left alternating marine and coastal marine deposits. They contain a diverse assemblage of well-preserved fossils that include petrified logs and leaves, turtles, crocodile scutes and teeth, garfish scales and teeth, and invertebrates such as pelecypods, gastropods, and ammonoids (Kues, 1982).

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wash and numerous parallel drainages direct rainfall and snowmelt southwest to the Chaco River, part of the San Juan watershed. Elevations in the complex range from 6,140 feet to 6,707 feet.

Ecological Values

The Greater Bisti Complex lies within the Great Basin grassland vegetative community type, which is poorly represented in protected areas in New Mexico. Grassland vegetation in the complex includes alkali sacaton, blue grama, galleta, curly grass, and muhlenbergia interspersed with big sagebrush, fourwing saltbush, black greasewood, and yucca. Bird species common in the area include kestrel, raven, horned lark, mountain plover, Say's phoebe, rock wren, and black-throated sparrow. The ferruginous hawk, a candidate endangered species, nests in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah unit. Split Lip Flats and Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah connect the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness to Chaco Culture NHP; together, these areas form a contiguous corridor of generally undeveloped landscapes in a region that is under great pressure from oil and gas development.

Scenic and Recreational Qualities

The multicolored badlands and geologic oddities contrasting with the open grasslands give the Greater Bisti Complex high scenic value. Broad views of undeveloped landscapes to the south and west add to this value. The terrain here is easy to traverse and offers unlimited possibilities for backpacking to remote campsites. Other such activities include day hiking and exploring the geological and archeological resources of the complex.

Special Management Areas

The complex contains the entire Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area (WSA), the Pierre's Site Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to protect a significant archeological site, and a portion of the proposed North Road ACEC, which would protect the area around an ancient road leading from Chaco Culture NHP.

Cultural Values

Human occupation within the Greater Bisti Complex has been nearly continuous since 10,000 B.C. A small portion of the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah unit, which was intensively surveyed in the early 1980's, contains ten sites. Nine of these are considered worthy of nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, which is not surprising given the area's proximity to Chaco Culture NHP. The most notable archaeological resource in the Split Lip Flats unit is Pierre's Site, which includes three Chacoan structures, nine smaller structures, and nine special use areas, all dating from A.D. 900 to 1150. Two of the Chacoan structures are built on top of a prominent butte, and the third and largest is built on alluvial deposits. A total of 45 rooms and six kivas have been identified in these Chacoan structures, and the smaller sites each include 5 to 10 rooms with an associated kiva. In addition, the prehistoric "Great North Road", part of an ancient system of roads thought to connect major Chacoan Anasazi sites in the San Juan Basin, passes through the largest Chacoan site. The proposed North Road ACEC, a portion of which is contained in the unit, would help protect this ancient passageway. Wilderness designation would further protect this cultural resource.

Access Information

Access to the Greater Bisti Complex is by Hwy 57 and County Rd 7650. From Hwy 550 head to Blanco Trading Post and head south on Hwy 57, a maintained dirt road. This is near mile marker 123. After about 10 miles, Hwy 57 meets County Rd 7650. Going west on CR 7650 takes you between the Split Lop Flats unit and the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah unit. If you continue south on Hwy 57, you'll join CR 7980, which leads to Chaco Culture NP. A few miles north of this junction is where many of the unique rock features of Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah exist. CR 7650 can also be accessed from Hwy 371, just south of mile marker 61.

The USGS 7.5 minute maps that cover this complex are Alamo Mesa East, Huerfano Trading Post SW, Pretty Rock, and Pueblo Bonito NW.