Welcome to the El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area

El Malpais has many exciting and unique areas awaiting your exploration. Below are some of the main visitor use areas that offer sightseeing, hiking, caving, photography, birding and solitary experiences.

 

Sandstone Bluff's Overlook (NPS): An easy drive on a short dirt road leads to a ridge of sandstone. From here you are offered excellent vistas of the El Malpais lava flows and the surrounding countryside. This area offers a turnaround for larger vehicles.

Vernal pools at the Sandstone Bluffs

La Ventana Natural Arch (BLM): One of the largest of New Mexico's natural arches; La Ventana was eroded from sandstone that dates back to the Age of Dinosaurs. The arch is an easy five minute walk from the parking area.

La Ventanna Natural Arch

Cebolla Wilderness (BLM): East of NM 117 lie some 62,000 acres of forested rimrock country. This wilderness is rich in prehistoric petroglyphs and historic homesteads.

Lava Falls Area (NPS): Explore lava features and plant adaptations unique to McCartys' flow, the youngest lava flow in this region.

Zuni-Acoma Trail (NPS): This ancient Puebloan trail follows a prehistoric trade route between Zuni and Acoma Pueblos. This is a strenuous 7 1/2+ mile one-way hike across 4 of the major lava flows in this region.

El Calderon Area (NPS): Forested and offering year-round opportunities, this area includes Junction Cave, Double Sinks, El Calderon cinder cone, lava flows and sandstone formations.

 

El Calderon Cinder Cone on the left and an ice formation at Four Windows Cave on the right

Chain of Craters (BLM): Magma found a weak area here and created a rift lined by 30 cinder cones. Access is via an unimproved dirt road County Road 42 that often requires a high clearance vehicle.

West Malpais Wilderness (BLM): Lava surrounds a large ponderosa pine parkland known as Hole-in-the-Wall.

Big Tubes Area (NPS): Lava tubes can be huge and this area is home to one of the largest systems in North America. A cairn route leads to Four Windows and Big Skylight Caves, and to Caterpillar and Seven Bridges collapses.

 

Four Windows Cave on the left and Braided Cave on the right

Visitation: 100,000+ visitors per year. Visitation is highest in July and August, lowest in December and January.

est lava flow in this region

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