El Malpais National Monument
New Mexico
🟡 🔴 hikes
Free entry
The richly diverse volcanic landscape of El Malpais (el-mal-pie-EES) offers solitude, recreation, and adventure. Explore incredible geologic features such as young lava flows, cinder cones, lava tubes, and sandstone bluffs. While some may see a desolate environment, people have been adapting to and living in this extraordinary terrain for generations. Come visit the land of frozen fire!
Activities
No entrance fee.
Hours
El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the following exceptions: - Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and the West Zuni-Acoma Trail parking lot are open from sunrise to sunset. - El Malpais Visitor Center and parking area is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Winter hours may vary. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25th, and January 1st. - El Malpais Emergency Operations Center is currently closed to the public.
Conditions
Weather now: ☀️ Clear, 72°F
⛅ 89°/48°
🌦️ 90°/54°
🌦️ 91°/61°
Things to do
See a Bat Outflight at Bat Cave
🟡 Hike the El Calderon Trail
Traverse the Lava Falls Trail
El Malpais Night Skies
Explore Sandstone Bluffs Overlook
Visit La Ventana Natural Arch
Hike the Narrows Rim Trail
🔴 Follow Ancient Footpaths on the Zuni-Acoma Trail
Visitor centers
El Malpais Visitor Center
Not an official safety source — always defer to NPS.gov and rangers for life-safety decisions.
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