"Discover the mystery of the Angel Peak Scenic Area and the Four Corners’ version of the badlands. The beauty of the landscape will amaze hikers visiting this magical area. This 1.6-mile out-and-back hike takes hikers along a narrow ridge and out into badlands for amazing views of Angel Peak. Photographers should consider an evening/ sunset hike to capture the perfect picture.

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Angel Peak Scenic Area is approximately 10,000 acres of rough and rugged desert landscape ripe for exploration. Hikers and photographers alike will find this little-known area quite exciting. While there are very limited established trails, there are plenty of hiking options along the canyon rim. Located near Bloomfield, New Mexico, and rising up nearly 7,000 feet, Angel Peak is considered a landmark in the area."

--JD Tanner and Emily Ressler-Tanner, Hiking the Four Corners (Falcon Guides).

"A cross-country day hike into the scenic badlands below Angel Peak. The route leads down into the badlands below the canyon rim from the northeast side of the campground. There are no formal trails, so good route-finding skills are necessary. Since the route is steep and has cliffs and several sandstone ledges that must be worked around, the hike is not recommended for inexperienced hikers. Don’t try it if the clay beds are wet. They become slick and dangerous.

The colorful badlands were cut by drainages flowing into the San Juan River about 10 or 15 miles north. Angel Peak is the prominent peak about 1 mile north of the campground. The clay and sandstone beds exposed in the badlands are but a small part of the huge sedimentary San Juan Basin."

--Laurence Parent, Hiking New Mexico - 4th Edition (Falcon Guides).