Park Passport

El Malpais National Monument NM

Lat, Long: 34.88422799, -107.9950948

Designation: National Monument

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!

Weather:

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

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 more details ›

Address/Contact:

1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.

Grants, US, 87020

Phone: 5058762783

Email: elma_social_media@nps.gov

Entrance Fees:

Yellow sandstone cliff at sunset with dark lava field in backgroundHiking in SummerSummer at Sandstone Bluffs OverlookSummer view from El Calderon cinder coneLava Tube caving at El Malpais