The 61,600-acre Cebolla Wilderness is made up of sandstone mesas, canyons, and
grassy valleys. Juniper and piñon dominate, and ponderosa pine is found on
north-facing slopes. Vertical escarpments provide excellent nesting habitat
for golden eagles, prairie falcons, red-tail hawks, and great horned owls. The
Cebolla Wilderness is rich in prehistoric archaeological sites, petroglyphs,
and historic homesteads. One notable archaeological site is the Dittert Site.
Sometime between A.D. 1000 and 1300, the Dittert Site was built and inhabited
by the ancestors of modern Pueblo Indian people. The Cebolla Wilderness also
contains La Ventana Natural Arch, a dramatic arch sculpted through wind and
water erosion in the sandstone cliffs. The Wilderness is located within the El
Malpais National Conservation Area.

The establishment of a Wilderness Area (Wilderness) identifies an area
Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The BLM
manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics,
primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are
protected. Learn more about Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.

<div><p>The 61,600-acre Cebolla Wilderness is made up of sandstone mesas, canyons, and grassy valleys. Juniper and piñon dominate, and ponderosa pine is found on north-facing slopes. Vertical escarpments provide excellent nesting habitat for golden eagles, prairie falcons, red-tail hawks, and great horned owls. The Cebolla Wilderness is rich in prehistoric archaeological sites, petroglyphs, and historic homesteads. One notable archaeological site is the Dittert Site. Sometime between A.D. 1000 and 1300, the Dittert Site was built and inhabited by the ancestors of modern Pueblo Indian people. The Cebolla Wilderness also contains La Ventana Natural Arch, a dramatic arch sculpted through wind and water erosion in the sandstone cliffs. The Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. </p></div><div><p>The establishment of a Wilderness Area (Wilderness) identifies an area Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.  The BLM manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are protected. Learn more about <a href="/node/4229" rel="nofollow">Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas</a>.</p></div>

The La Ventana Arch covered with a light snow.

La Ventana Arch in the Cebolla Wilderness

Cebolla Wilderness Area

This WSA is made up of sagebrush flats and pinyon covered sandstone hills.
This area is under consideration for addition to the Cebolla Wilderness.
Please see the Cebolla Wilderness webpage for more information.

<p>This WSA is made up of sagebrush flats and pinyon covered sandstone hills. This area is under consideration for addition to the Cebolla Wilderness. Please see the Cebolla Wilderness webpage for more information.</p>

Bird's eye view of the park

Canyons Wilderness Study Area

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!

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!

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

Sandstone Bluffs Overlook

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

Wildflowers on the El Calderon Trail

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

View from El Calderon

Explore lava tube caving at El Malpais National Monument

Lava Tube Cave

El Malpais National Monument

Winter exploration allows one to discover the quiet beauty of El Malpais

Snowy Landscape

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

The West Malpais Wilderness is a landscape of volcanic lava flows, mostly
flat, and encompasses three main ecotypes. The southeastern portion of the
wilderness is a grassland with expansive views. The western area is a pinon-
juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine is prevalent in the northern portion of the
Wilderness. The most distinctive landform within the West Malpais Wilderness
is a 6,700-acre kipuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground) in
the north part of the wilderness called Hole-In-The-Wall. Ponderosa pines are
sprinkled through the grassland of the kipuka, which is ringed by a sea of
broken, jagged basalt where ponderosa pines are plentiful. The Wilderness is
located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area.

The establishment of a Wilderness Area identifies an area Congress has added
to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The BLM manages these areas to
ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation
opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are protected. Learn
more about Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.

<div><p>The West Malpais Wilderness is a landscape of volcanic lava flows, mostly flat, and encompasses three main ecotypes. The southeastern portion of the wilderness is a grassland with expansive views. The western area is a pinon-juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine is prevalent in the northern portion of the Wilderness. The most distinctive landform within the West Malpais Wilderness is a 6,700-acre kipuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground) in the north part of the wilderness called Hole-In-The-Wall. Ponderosa pines are sprinkled through the grassland of the kipuka, which is ringed by a sea of broken, jagged basalt where ponderosa pines are plentiful. The Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. </p></div><div><p>The establishment of a Wilderness Area identifies an area Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.  The BLM manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are protected. Learn more about <a href="/node/4229" rel="nofollow">Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas</a>.</p></div>

West Malpais Wilderness Area

The El Malpais WSA consists of several independent tracts of land under
consideration for Wilderness designation in conjunction with lands proposed
for Wilderness within the El Malpais National Monument (managed by the
National Park Service). One tract includes Little Hole-in-the-Wall, a kīpuka
(a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground). The kīpuka is surrounded
entirely by jagged basalt. This area is covered by piñon-juniper woodlands and
open stands of ponderosa pine. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
passes through this WSA.

<p>The El Malpais WSA consists of several independent tracts of land under consideration for Wilderness designation in conjunction with lands proposed for Wilderness within the El Malpais National Monument (managed by the National Park Service). One tract includes Little Hole-in-the-Wall, a kīpuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground). The kīpuka is surrounded entirely by jagged basalt. This area is covered by piñon-juniper woodlands and open stands of ponderosa pine. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.</p>

Contact the field office for more information.

El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

The El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1987 to
protect nationally significant geological, archaeological, ecological,
cultural, scenic, scientific, and wilderness resources surrounding the Zuni-
Bandera volcanic field. _El Malpais_ translates to "the badlands" in Spanish.

The NCA features dramatic sandstone cliffs, canyons, La Ventana Natural Arch,
Chain of Craters Back Country Byway, Joe Skeen Campground, the Narrows Picnic
Area, and the Cebolla and West Malpais Wilderness Areas – offering exceptional
opportunities for photography, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.

For more than 10,000 years, people have interacted with the El Malpais
landscape. Historic and prehistoric sites provide connections to the past.
These cultural resources remain alive through the spiritual and physical
presence of contemporary Indigenous peoples, including the Ramah Navajo and
Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, who continue their ancestral uses
of El Malpais, including gathering plant materials, paying respect, and
renewing ties to this land.

Visitors should exercise caution during the monsoon season due to
unpredictable weather and flash flooding. All visitors should come prepared
with water, sturdy hiking boots, snacks, rain gear, a first aid kit, and
sunscreen. Exploring BLM lava tube caves requires warm clothing, protective
headgear, three sources of light, and leather gloves.

Volunteer camp host applications are accepted year-round. Please email
rbob@blm.gov if interested.

<p>The El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1987 to protect nationally significant geological, archaeological, ecological, cultural, scenic, scientific, and wilderness resources surrounding the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field. <em>El Malpais</em> translates to "the badlands" in Spanish. </p><p>The NCA features dramatic sandstone cliffs, canyons, La Ventana Natural Arch, Chain of Craters Back Country Byway, Joe Skeen Campground, the Narrows Picnic Area, and the Cebolla and West Malpais Wilderness Areas – offering exceptional opportunities for photography, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.</p><p>For more than 10,000 years, people have interacted with the El Malpais landscape. Historic and prehistoric sites provide connections to the past. These cultural resources remain alive through the spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Indigenous peoples, including the Ramah Navajo and Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, who continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais, including gathering plant materials, paying respect, and renewing ties to this land. </p><p>Visitors should exercise caution during the monsoon season due to unpredictable weather and flash flooding. All visitors should come prepared with water, sturdy hiking boots, snacks, rain gear, a first aid kit, and sunscreen. Exploring BLM lava tube caves requires warm clothing, protective headgear, three sources of light, and leather gloves.  </p><p>Volunteer camp host applications are accepted year-round. Please email <a href="mailto:rbob@blm.gov" rel="nofollow">rbob@blm.gov</a> if interested.</p>

View of La Ventana Arch as seen from below. The rocks in the foreground are covered with a light snow.

Cebolla Wilderness Area

Directions

Stay Limit

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Canyons Wilderness Study Area

El Malpais National Monument

West Malpais Wilderness Area

El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

El Malpais National Conservation Area