Ranger Programs

Fall 2025 Programs

All programs are free and do not require reservations. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.

 

Explore the volcanic wonderland of El Malpais!

Volcano Festival

Saturday, October 4

9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presentations: 10:00 am & 2:00 pm

Join us for Volcano Festival at the El Malpais Visitor Center as we celebrate our wonderful volcanic landscape! We invite all ages to come learn about the geology of volcanoes and lava flows and earn a special Volcano Festival sticker.

At 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, guest speaker Matt Zimmerer, from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources at New Mexico Tech, will talk about the incredible volcanism found in New Mexico and at El Malpais.

Lava Falls Guided Hike

Sunday, October 5
10:30 am

Join a guided hike on the 3,900-year-old McCartys Flow via the Lava Falls Trail. Lava Falls Trail consists of a 1.1-mile loop trail marked by rock cairns. The entire hike is on young lava rock. Most of the flow is smooth, but there is some stepping up and down required. The Lava Falls Trailhead is located off of Highway 117, about 37 miles south of Grants. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes and sun protection.

Early October Ranger Programs

For outdoor programs, please wear sturdy hiking shoes, layered clothing, sunscreen, and a hat. Bring water, snacks, and your curiosity.

Stargazing at Sandstone Bluffs

Friday, October 10
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Stargaze with rangers, look through a telescope, and learn about the importance of dark night skies. Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is located 19 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. Once at the parking area, look for the red lights.

Wear warm layers and close-toed shoes. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, preferably one with a red light setting, and a bottle of water. You are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Zuni-Acoma Trail (Hwy 53) Guided Hike

Saturday, October 11
10:30 am

Learn about what makes El Malpais home to some of the region's most diverse plant communities, and experience the dramatic landscape changes, sometimes from just one step to the next. The hike will visit and discuss the burn scar from the 2024 Encerrita wildfire. The west Zuni-Acoma Trailhead is located 16 miles south of Grants on Highway 53. If coming from Grants, the turn is just past mile marker 70. (Please note the Zuni-Acoma Trail has a second trailhead located on Highway 117. Please be sure you go to the west Highway 53 trailhead!)

The first part of the hike is through grassland along a dirt trail. Eventually, the trail turns into a cairn-marked route across rubbly lava flows with loose rocks. The guided portion of the hike will cover about the first 1.5 - 2 miles of the trail and return to the parking area along the same route. Plan for around a 4-mile round trip hike.

Acoma-Zuni Trail (Hwy 117) Guided Hike

Sunday, October 12
10:30 am

Explore the cultural and natural history of El Malpais along the Acoma-Zuni Trail with a ranger. The east Acoma-Zuni Trailhead is located 23 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. (Please note the Acoma-Zuni Trail has a second trailhead located on Highway 53. Please be sure you go to the east Highway 117 trailhead!)

The first part of the hike is along a sandy trail before it turns into a cairn-marked route on the young lava flow. The guided portion of the hike will cover about the first 1 mile of the trail and return to the parking area along the same route. Plan for a 2-mile round trip hike.

Lava Falls Guided Hike

Monday, October 13
10:30 am

Explore the incredibly young McCartys lava flow on the Lava Falls Trail with a ranger. Lava Falls Trail consists of a 1.1-mile loop trail marked by rock cairns. The entire hike is on young lava rock. Most of the flow is smooth, but there is some stepping up and down required. The Lava Falls Trailhead is located off of Highway 117, about 37 miles south of Grants.

Acoma-Zuni Trail (Hwy 117) Guided Hike

Saturday, October 18
10:30 am

Explore the cultural and natural history of El Malpais along the Acoma-Zuni Trail with a ranger. The east Acoma-Zuni Trailhead is located 23 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. (Please note the Acoma-Zuni Trail has a second trailhead located on Highway 53. Please be sure you go to the east Highway 117 trailhead!)

The first part of the hike is along a sandy trail before it turns into a cairn-marked route on the young lava flow. The guided portion of the hike will cover about the first 1 mile of the trail and return to the parking area along the same route. Plan for a 2-mile round trip hike.

 

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