The land of surreal giant 'stone mushrooms' like on another planet

The American West is home to some of the world's most iconic rock formations. Monument Valley, Delicate Arch, and Devil's Tower are well-known landmarks with Mother Nature's wonderful architectural blocks that always attract countless visitors to admire.

And one of the most dramatic landscapes of the American West lies in a remote corner of New Mexico. The place mentioned is Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah.

The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Research Area is a strange land characterized by rock formations shaped like mushrooms.

The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is one of a number of remote areas in the northwest of New Mexico. In the entire area known as the San Juan Basin, the geological features here have gradually transformed over time into a land of fanciful shapes, home to strange rocks.

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah features large, pale rocks with a circular cone-shaped rock above. From a distance, this area looks like a forest full of giant rock mushrooms. In addition, there are countless petrified tree stumps and fossil remains of prehistoric creatures that once roamed this desolate desert.

Huge mushroom-shaped rocks at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah.

It is also the site of many animal fossils dating back millions of years.

The multicolored rugged lands, funny shaped spiers, eroded sandstone beaches here are enough to conquer the souls who love to explore and adventure.

The stone blocks have all kinds of unique shapes.

It is a top spot for scientists to study and was once a favorite of the world famous 'dinosaur hunter' - Charles Hazelius Sternberg. Highlights of his collection are on display at the Museum of Evolution in Sweden, among them the 75-million-year-old skulls and bones of dinosaurs, crocodiles and turtles.

This is a top location for scientists.

Reaching Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah is not an easy journey. Visitors have to go very far into the arid San Juan Basin, on a series of bumpy roads that are unpaved, without restrooms or food and drink shops. If your car breaks down or gets lost - chances are it will take a long time to find help.

Despite the hardships, those who are fascinated by the beauty of Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah have concluded that the expedition hike into this arid region is well worth it.

Conquering Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah is not an easy but rewarding experience.

This place possesses great beauty - a gift for those who love to explore.

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah is an ideal destination for seasoned travelers. The thorny, wild and fanciful beauty of Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah will surely make an unforgettable memory for anyone who has ever set foot here.