el-malpais | NM | Find park

Yellow sandstone cliff at sunset with dark lava field in background

Sandstone Bluffs Overlook offers a beautiful view over the vast volcanic landscape of El Malpais.

Enjoy a stroll along the El Calderon Trail to view beautiful wildflowers in summer.

A vast expanse of lava fields as seen from Sandstone Bluffs Overlook

Summer view from El Calderon cinder cone

A hike to the top of El Calderon cinder cone offers one a view of the entire monument.

Explore lava tube caving at El Malpais National Monument

Physical Address:

1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.

Grants, NM 87020

Mailing Address:

1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.

Grants, NM 87020

contact-details

Phone Number: 5058762783 Voice

Email Address: elma_social_media@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

The richly diverse volcanic landscape of El Malpais (el-mal-pie-EES) offers solitude, recreation, and adventure. Explore incredible geologic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, lava tube caves, 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!

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

No roads exist through El Malpais National Monument. To explore the east side of the park, take exit 89 off I-40 and head south on Highway 117. To explore the north side of the park, take exit 81 off I-40 and head south on Highway 53. To reach the visitor center, take exit 85 off I-40 in Grants, New Mexico. After you exit, head south on Santa Fe Ave and continue straight over the freeway overpass. Take a left at the entrance sign for El Malpais Visitor Center and continue 300 yards to the parking lot.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the following exceptions: - Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is 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.

Weather Information:

As a general rule, daily temperatures swing roughly 30 (F) from night lows to afternoon highs. Summer is sunny and hot with monsoon rain storms and an average high of 80 (F). Winter is cool, sunny, with potential snow storms and an average high of 45 (F). Spring and fall are generally dry with the occasional storm rain and/or snow storm. For more information on weather and current weather conditions visit https://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/weather.htm