• Sweeping panoramic views of lava flows, cinder cones, and distant mountains can be enjoyed at Sandstone Bluffs.

    El Malpais

    National Monument New Mexico

  • All caves in El Malpais National Monument are closed to recreational use.

    This closure is due to a combination of factors including the outbreak of a fungal disease that is killing millons of bats. Read more at our Nature and Science page. More »

For Kids

Join our Junior Ranger Program!

Are you interested in becoming a JUNIOR RANGER? Click here to see what you need to do!

 
A girl examines the rings of Saturn through a telescope.

NPS Photo by Jaclyn Waggoner

A young girl examines the rings of Saturn through a telescope at El Malpais.

Astronomy for kids!

Join us throughout the year when we host special astronomy programs! Kids can participate in the astronomy raffle for a chance to win night sky prizes. We have kid-sized telescopes available for exploring the galaxy, and kids are welcome to bring their own telescopes and share their galactic expertise with others.

Program announcements will be posted here when events are scheduled. For more information, call 505-876-2783.

Did You Know?

Cerro Rendija is a shield volcano

Cerro Rendija volcano, just west of Big Tubes in El Malpais National Monument, is a good example of a shield volcano. Low viscosity lava spread out rapidly from the vent and kept the volcano from gaining much vertical height. More...