El Malpais National Monument
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El Malpais at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Hike the El Calderon Trail
- Nearby city
- Grants, NM
Explore this park
About El Malpais 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 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!
Weather Information
As a general rule, daily temperatures swing roughly 30 (F) from night lows to afternoon highs.
- Spring
and fall are generally dry with the occasional storm rain and/or snow storm.
- 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).
For more information on weather and conditions visit
Operating Hours
El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the following exceptions: - Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and the West Zuni-Acoma Trail parking lot are 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.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning El Malpais National Monument
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for El Malpais. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
