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

    El Malpais

    National Monument New Mexico

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • Cave permits now available for selected park caves

    FREE mandatory cave permits are now available to visit specific caves in El Malpais. Permits can be obtained at the El Malpais Information Center on NM Highway 53 or at the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center at I-40/Exit 85. More »

  • Fire restrictions now in effect!

    Stage 2 fire restrictions are now in effect at El Malpais. No smoking except within a vehicle, and no campfires or charcoal fires anywhere in the monument. More »

Your Safety

To Big Tubes Parking Lot
Trail to the Big Tubes parking lot.
 

Your Safety is Your Responsibility

This is not your average walk in the park. Most of El Malpais National Monument is undeveloped. Piles of rocks, called cairns, mark rugged routes across the lava flows which can be difficult to follow. Every year there are search and rescue operations for lost and/or injured hikers. In most of these cases, people were not prepared for the conditions at El Malpais.

Hiking and exploring El Malpais can be a fun and rewarding
experience if you are prepared. Before you go, ask yourself:

• Am I wearing the right clothes and shoes for the trail conditions?
• Do I have a daypack with water, first aid, and other essentials?
• Am I physically able to hike over rugged terrain?
• Does somebody know where I am and when I should return?
• Am I hiking with at least one other person in case I get hurt?
• Is there enough daylight left for my entire hike?
• Is severe weather or lightning in the forecast?

The information here and in area guides is intended to help you as you explore, but it cannot replace common sense and good judgement.

To report a safety hazard e-mail us. Please be specific in your message describing the hazard, location of the hazard, and any other pertinent information.

Did You Know?

A lava moonscape in El Malpais

When people say that El Malpais lava country looks like a "moonscape" they aren't far from the truth. Much of the moon is covered with basalt lava flows which form the "maria" or lunar seas. Astronauts trained on lava flows in preparation for walking on the moon. More...