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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 »
Nearby Attractions
Mount Taylor is the tallest peak in the region and part of the Cibola National Forest. NPS Enjoy outdoor recreation on nearby USDA Forest Service lands in the San Mateo and Zuni Mountains, or in the Bureau of Land Management El Malpais National Conservation Area. The pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni welcome visitors and feature museums, visitor centers, and events that are open to the public. 
The headframe from a uranium mine stands next to the New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants. NPS New Mexico Mining Museum The museum chronicles the history of Grants and of the uranium mining boom that happened in the 1950s. An underground exhibit features a recreated mine with historic equipment. Open daily except Sunday. Call 505-287-4802 for more information, or click here for their web page. 
Visitors look into the depths of Bandera Volcano. NPS Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave The Bandera Volcano is one of the most recent in the region, erupting about 12,000 years ago. An easy trail takes visitors to the rim of the crater, while another short trail leads visitors into a lava tube with a permanent layer of ice at the bottom. Fees are charged at this privately owned site. Call them at 1-888-ICE-CAVE or click here to visit their web site. 
Spires of volcanic rock rise above Spud Patch on the north slope of Mount Taylor in the Cibola National Forest. NPS Cibola National Forest - Mount Taylor Ranger District 
La Ventana Arch, in the BLM conservation area, is one of the largest in New Mexico. NPS El Malpais National Conservation Area With over 200,000 acres of land, the Bureau of Land Management conservation area is one of the premier outdoor recreation sites in New Mexico. Two designated wilderness areas offer solitude and space. Visitors can enjoy one of New Mexico's largest natural arches at La Ventana on Highway 117 south of the BLM Ranger Station. The Joe Skeen Campground has 12 primitive sites for campers. Call them at 505-280-2918 or click here to visit their website. |
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Did You Know?
La Ventana Natural Arch is one of the largest accessible arches in New Mexico. Eroded from Zuni Sandstone by wind and water, it is 25 feet thick, 125 feet high and 165 feet across at the base. More...