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!

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!

Bird's eye view of the park

El Malpais National Monument

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.

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.

El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

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 wide open expansive views. The western area is
a piсon-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 are plentiful. The Wilderness is
located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area.

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 wide open expansive views.  The western area is a piсon-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 are plentiful.  The Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area.

West Malpais Wilderness Area

The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway is a 33-mile backcountry byway located
in El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and National Monument in
northwestern New Mexico. The byway, which is County Road 42, passes almost
exclusively through public lands. County Road 42 forms the western boundary of
the West Malpais Wilderness and connects NM 53 and NM 117. For information
regarding what you will see or the public lands you will have access to along
the byway, see BLM's El Malpais NCA recreation website.

The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway is a 33-mile backcountry byway located in El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and National Monument in northwestern New Mexico. The byway, which is County Road 42, passes almost exclusively through public lands. County Road 42 forms the western boundary of the West Malpais Wilderness and connects NM 53 and NM 117. 
 
For information regarding what you will see or the public lands you will have access to along the byway, see BLM's El Malpais NCA recreation website.

Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway

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 includes 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. There are many
opportunities for photography, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing within
this unique NCA.

For more than 10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais
landscape. Historic and prehistoric sites provide connections to the past.
More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources are kept alive by the
spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Native American groups,
including the Ramah Navajo and Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni.
These tribes continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering
plant materials, paying respect, and renewing ties.

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 includes 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. There are many opportunities for photography, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing within this unique NCA.For more than 10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais landscape. Historic and prehistoric sites provide connections to the past. More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources are kept alive by the spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Native American groups, including the Ramah Navajo and Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni. These tribes continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering plant materials, paying respect, and renewing ties.

El Malpais National Conservation Area

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 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.

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.

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.

Canyons Wilderness Study Area

The Chain of Craters WSA is located in west-central New Mexico within the El
Malpais National Conservation Area. This is a line of more than 25 cinder
cones that was the result of magma finding a weak spot in the Earth's crust.
The lower elevations are dominated by piсon and juniper woodland giving way to
forests of ponderosa pine at higher elevations. The Continental Divide
National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

The Chain of Craters WSA is located in west-central New Mexico within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. This is a line of more than 25 cinder cones that was the result of magma finding a weak spot in the Earth's crust. The lower elevations are dominated by piсon and juniper woodland giving way to forests of ponderosa pine at higher elevations. 
 
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

El Malpais National Monument

Directions

Reviews