• 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

Become an El Malpais Junior Ranger!

Join our Junior Ranger program; click here to see what you need to do!

 
A young girl explores the rings of Saturn with a telescope.

NPS Photo by Jaclyn Waggoner

A young girl explores the rings of Saturn through a telescope.

Be a Junior Ranger Night Explorer!

Throughout the year, the park hosts astronomy programs at the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center and other sites. Join us for telescopic tours of the moon, planets, and other galactic wonders! Kid-sized scopes are available, and technical help is available for those who bring their own telescopes. Check this space for program announcements.

 
A park ranger and his trusty horse on patrol.

NPS

A park ranger heads out on horse patrol.

See what Rangers do!

Have you ever thought about what park rangers do while on duty? Click here to check out our park ranger photo gallery and explore rangers in action in our national parks!

Did You Know?

Bat on cave wall

Bats are the only mammals that fly. El Malpais National Monument is home to thirteen different species of bats. Pregnant Mexican Free-tailed bats join the resident bats during the summer months but leave once the pups are able to fly. More...