Visitor Centers

The El Malpais NM Visitor Center is located off Interstate 40, Exit 85, in Grants, New Mexico.

NPS

Located just south of I-40 at Exit 85, the El Malpais Visitor Center is a wonderful place to start your journey. It is open daily 9 am to 5 pm except Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.

Parking spots are available for RV's and oversize vehicles. Overnight parking is prohibited.

A picnic area next to the front entrance is the perfect place to relax and have a picnic lunch. You can also stretch your legs on a short, 0.5-mile hiking trail that starts just off from the parking area. Pets are permitted on the trail and must be on a leash and under control at all times.

 

Visitors enjoy the views from the main lobby of the El Malpais Visitor Center.

NPS

Inside, the Western National Parks Association bookstore offers collectables, books, gifts, and more! All purchases help support partner parks.

Our 60-seat theater offers on-request showings of the award winning film, "Remembered Earth," a 27-minute documentary that summarizes the high desert legacy of northwest New Mexico.

Ranger programs are available on a daily basis inside the visitor center. Check out our event schedule for other scheduled programs both inside the visitor center and out!

 

The interior of the El Malpais Ranger Station.

El Malpais National Conservation Area and El Malpais Ranger Station

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the El Malpais National Conservation Area, including the El Malpais Ranger Station. The El Malpais Ranger Station is currently closed for renovations, and is planned to reopen in 2021. A reopen date has not been determined at this time. For more information about the conservation area, visit the BLM's website.