What Is El Malpais National Monument?
This national monument protects the volcanic landscapes of the Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field!
What Makes It Beautiful?
For having such a negative name (Malpais = bad country) this park is full of beauty! That’s because the chaos and destruction of centuries of volcanic eruptions, dating from 60,000 to 3,900 years ago, left behind some spectacular remains. On the surface, there are deep cracks and twisty, windy, ropelike pāhoehoe lava flows! There are amazing cliffs and boulders at Sandstone Bluffs overlooking all of it too!
Under the surface, these ancient eruptions left behind lava tube caves! These undeveloped tunnels twist and turn through the ground, containing a whole zoo of troglo-critters from bats to bugs to special moss gardens that grow under the skylight of collapsed lava tubes above!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at El Malpais National Monument!
- Donate to El Malpais National Monument!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
There are lots of access points, so start your journey at the visitor center:
1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.
Grants, NM 87020
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Visit the monument any time you like, though spring and fall will be more comfortable than summer or winter! The visitor center is open Thursday through Monday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM!
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