El Malpais National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

QUICKLINKS:

Welcome!

This jagged landscape poured forth over the past million years. Molten rock created an eerie world of lava tube caves, cinder cones, pressure ridges, and bridges.

A closer look reveals diverse flora and fauna adapted to extreme environments. Ancient cairns, prehistoric ruins, and homesteads show how people have related to this primeval place.

A Variety of Experiences

Whether you have an hour or several days, there's plenty to enjoy at El Malpais. Download our brochures and choose from caving, panoramic scenery, easy trails, or hard treks.

Things to do

Places to go

Nearby Attractions

		The Latest Announcements Beginning November 1, 2009 the El Malpais Information Center on NM 53 will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The center will be open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Visitor services are available at the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center and the El Morro Visitor Center. The Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center is now on winter hours. The center is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm MST. The center will be closed for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day holidays. Be ready for colder weather! Overnight lows in the region have dropped to the low teens on a regular basis and snow has fallen on Mount Taylor. Fall is a great time to take on one of the more challenging hikes like the Zuni-Acoma Trail.

A Park Ranger prepares the group for the upcoming bat flight.

Ranger Led Programs

Join a ranger for an in-depth experience at El Malpais! Explore the depths of Junction Cave. Take in the thrill of a bat flight at the Bat Cave. Hike on a section of the Continental Divide Trail. For a current schedule of programs click on "more" for a downloadable PDF file.
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Write to

El Malpais National Monument
123 East Roosevelt Avenue
Grants, NM 87020

E-mail Us

Phone

El Malpais Information Center
(505) 783-4774

Monument Headquarters
(505) 285-4641 ext. 0

Fax

(505) 285-5661

Climate

El Malpais ranges in elevation from 6500 to 8300 ft. The weather in northwestern New Mexico is unpredictable and visitors should be prepared for all conditions throughout the year.

Spring is quite variable, with stormy weather, blustery wind, and temperature extremes.

Summer can be warm to hot out on the lava fields. Monsoonal thunderstorms are a common occurrence during afternoons and lightning poses a hazard to hikers.

Fall is perhaps the mildest season in El Malpais. Cool nights give way to mild days as the leaves change color. Fall storms can bring snow and colder weather.

In the winter, snowstorms are common and nights are cold with below freezing temperatures.