Finding the De-Na-Zin Trailhead
The De-Na-Zin Trailhead is at N 36˚ 18.729'; W 108˚ 00.161', on the north side of County Road 7500. CR 7500 runs from State Route 371 in the west, to State Route 550 in the east.
It is hard to see the parking area from County Road 7500. It sits on the north side of the road, a couple of feet higher and surrounded by scrub growth. There are two smallish, dark wooden signs that say "De-Na-Zin Wilderness," in burned letters. The larger sign is set parallel to the road instead of facing it, and the smaller sign is on the opposite (south) side of CR 7500 from the parking lot. You can barely see the brief break in the long fence line that allows access to the parking lot. So, look sharp.
From the west, the turn onto CR 7500 from Rte. 371 is clearly marked by a brown sign for the "De-Na-Zin Wilderness," 7-8 miles south of the Bisti turnoff and almost 40 miles north of Crown Point. Turn onto CR 7500 at the sign, and proceed 13.2 miles. After 12.2 miles going east on CR 7500, you will cross a cattle gate in a sandy area. The parking lot is one mile from the cattle gate, on the left. When I drove this route in April 2015, the BLM had put up several signs providing the mileage to the parking lot, in this direction.
From the east, the turn from Route 550 onto CR 7500 is between mile markers 127 and 128, clearly marked by a sign for "De-Na-Zin Wilderness." After the turn, another sign says "De-Na-Zin Wilderness; 12 Miles." Not exactly. From the turn, it is 11.1 miles to the parking lot. Bear right at the first fork - the signs there can be confusing. There really is no landmark to tell you that you are nearing the parking area except that you get a glimpse of the gray clay to the right side of the road, about 1/2 mile before the parking lot.
Elevation is 6,450 feet above sea level at the parking lot. You can look south and see the mesas of Chaco Canyon National History Park pretty easily. The trail is a dirt track heading north out of the parking lot. The picture above is taken from a few yards down the trail, back south to parking lot (with only my friend's truck in it, a typical weekday sight). It is a couple hundred yards walk before you reach the edge of the clay and begin to descend.
It is hard to see the parking area from County Road 7500. It sits on the north side of the road, a couple of feet higher and surrounded by scrub growth. There are two smallish, dark wooden signs that say "De-Na-Zin Wilderness," in burned letters. The larger sign is set parallel to the road instead of facing it, and the smaller sign is on the opposite (south) side of CR 7500 from the parking lot. You can barely see the brief break in the long fence line that allows access to the parking lot. So, look sharp.
From the west, the turn onto CR 7500 from Rte. 371 is clearly marked by a brown sign for the "De-Na-Zin Wilderness," 7-8 miles south of the Bisti turnoff and almost 40 miles north of Crown Point. Turn onto CR 7500 at the sign, and proceed 13.2 miles. After 12.2 miles going east on CR 7500, you will cross a cattle gate in a sandy area. The parking lot is one mile from the cattle gate, on the left. When I drove this route in April 2015, the BLM had put up several signs providing the mileage to the parking lot, in this direction.
From the east, the turn from Route 550 onto CR 7500 is between mile markers 127 and 128, clearly marked by a sign for "De-Na-Zin Wilderness." After the turn, another sign says "De-Na-Zin Wilderness; 12 Miles." Not exactly. From the turn, it is 11.1 miles to the parking lot. Bear right at the first fork - the signs there can be confusing. There really is no landmark to tell you that you are nearing the parking area except that you get a glimpse of the gray clay to the right side of the road, about 1/2 mile before the parking lot.
Elevation is 6,450 feet above sea level at the parking lot. You can look south and see the mesas of Chaco Canyon National History Park pretty easily. The trail is a dirt track heading north out of the parking lot. The picture above is taken from a few yards down the trail, back south to parking lot (with only my friend's truck in it, a typical weekday sight). It is a couple hundred yards walk before you reach the edge of the clay and begin to descend.
