Rainfall topples iconic New Mexico rock
The collapse of the Alien Throne near the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness follows a week of severe flooding and evacuations in north-west New Mexico.
By Yuna Patel ·
A prominent rock spire in north-west New Mexico collapsed into pieces after severe rainfall associated with the super El Niño season. The formation, known locally as the Alien Throne, is a major visual anchor for visitors to the Valley of Dreams trail. Its destruction marks a distinct change to the physical geography of the area.
Kialo Winters, a tour guide who has worked in the region for 13 years, found the damage on 30 October. He was leading a group near the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness when he noticed the iconic feature was gone. Winters described the moment as a heart-stopping experience because the structure serves as a primary attraction for tourists.
The storms that caused the collapse struck the region one week prior to the discovery. The heavy rains triggered widespread flooding that forced evacuations and required hundreds of water rescues. In Farmington, the nearest town to the Valley of Dreams, officials reported that some families were stranded on rooftops as river levels rose before rescue teams arrived.
Winters, who founded Navajo Tours USA, stated that the rock formations hold deep significance for Indigenous residents. The spires sit on Navajo Nation land and have served as traditional waypoints for generations. He noted that the loss represents a meaningful change to a culturally important site, not just an aesthetic one.
The damage was not isolated to the Alien Throne. Winters reported that another nearby formation called the King of Wings also sustained damage. Posts on the hiking platform AllTrails suggest this second formation may have broken before 9 October, a date prior to the most intense rainstorms hitting the region.
The Navajo Nation and the Bureau of Land Management plan to examine the site to confirm that natural causes were responsible for the collapse. Winters urged visitors to allow the damaged sites to rest and advised against climbing remaining structures or collecting stones. He noted that taking stones is illegal and disrespectful to the local community.
Park rangers at several state and national parks with similar hoodoo formations have not yet documented specific damage in the Four Corners region. These parks include Chiricahua, Goblin Valley, Gold Butte, and Cathedral Gorge. Hawaii's Hōlei sea arch also collapsed into the Pacific in October during the same storm season.
