El Malpais means "the badlands" in Spanish and is most commonly pronounced el-mal-pie-EES. Its volcanic features include jagged spatter cones, a lava tube cave system extending at least 17 miles, and fragile ice caves. The area offers diverse natural environments and tantalizing evidence of American Indian and European history. El Malpais was established by Congress to protect the outstanding archaeological, geological, and wilderness resources surrounding El Malpais lava flows.
The National Park Service (NPS) administers El Malpais National Monument, while the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers El Malpais National Conservation Area. This was the first such joint management area established by Congress. The Monument was established in 1987.
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| Area: |
National Conservation Area: 263,000 acres. |
| Elevation: |
From 6,200 to over 8,900 feet |
| Hours: |
Open daily, except for Sandstone Bluffs Overlook, which closes at dusk. |
| Visitor Center: |
Two Visitor Centers:
- BLM Visitor Center—Located off N. M. 117, nine miles south of I-40. From I-40 take Exit 89 and drive south through the northern end of the Conservation Area. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.
- NPS Visitor Center—Located 23 miles south of I-40 on New Mexico 53.
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| Facilities: |
Two Visitor Centers, book stores, drinking water, restrooms, picnic areas. |
| Directions: |
Located south of Grants, New Mexico and 80 miles west of Albuquerque. Two state highways provide access to the Monument and Conservation Area. Both are accessed via Interstate 40. Exit 89, east of Grants, will take you along N. M. 117 which traverses the east side. Exit 81, west of Grants, will take you along N. M. 53, which travels down the northwest edge.
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| Coordinates: |
Map Coordinates (NAD83): 34 57.098N; 107 58.462W. |
| Weather: |
- Rainfall averages 15 inches annually, with most of that coming in the July, August, and September monsoon season. Unpredictable weather may occur during the monsoon season, which may cause flooding. Thunderstorms are common during these summer rains and lightning poses a hazard to hikers.
- Temperatures range from cold winters (daytime 30 to 50 degrees; nighttime near minus 20 degrees) to warm summers (daytime 80 to 100 degrees; nighttime 40 to 60 degrees).
- See area weather chart.
- See Canyon Country Weather for more information.
- Sunrise/Sunset
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| Regulations: |
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| Precautions: |
- Dirt roads may be impassable when wet.
- Falls on lava can cause nasty cuts and abrasions.
- Wear sturdy boots on the rugged, often sharp lava.
- Leather work gloves are helpful on lava and in caves.
- Do not drink surface water.
- Poisonous scorpions and rattlesnakes live in this area. If you encounter a wild animal, do not disturb it.
- See Backcountry Considerations.
- See Backcountry Emergencies.
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