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

    El Malpais

    National Monument New Mexico

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  • 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 millions of bats. Read more at our Nature and Science page. More »

Operating Hours & Seasons

A hiker treks along the Continental Divide Trail near El Calderon

Any season is a good season to explore the wild country of El Malpais.

NPS Photo by Sue Olin

We're Open Year-round!

El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area are always open to visitors except Sandstone Bluffs Overlook. This area closes at dusk.

The Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center is open daily 8 am to 5 pm, and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas day, and New Years Day.

Depending on the season, access to backcountry areas may be difficult. Many of the dirt roads become impassable after summer rains or winter snowfall. Please contact one of our visitor centers for current road and trail information:

El Malpais Information Center 505-783-4774

Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center 505-876-2783

BLM Ranger Station 505-280-2918













 

 

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...