{"id":"nps-elma","slug":"el-malpais-national-monument","name":"El Malpais National Monument","designation":"National Monument","category":"national-monument","categoryLabel":"National Monument","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"ELMA","designation":"National Monument","sourceId":"nps-elma"}],"states":["NM"],"stateNames":["New Mexico"],"location":{"lat":34.88422799,"lon":-107.9950948},"bbox":[-108.1511,34.7099,-107.8051,35.1221],"acres":{"value":113932,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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!","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/elma/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=35.1221&b_tl_lng=-108.1511&b_br_lat=34.7099&b_br_lng=-107.8051","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=El%20Malpais%20National%20Monument","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/40AD6A6E-E9B1-E6D9-779C33D5A86F5316.jpg","title":"Sandstone Bluffs Overlook","alt":"Yellow sandstone cliff at sunset with dark lava field in background","caption":"Sandstone Bluffs Overlook offers a beautiful view over the vast volcanic landscape of El Malpais.","credit":"NPS Kristi Rugg","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E3569-1DD8-B71B-0B72C8409C12A154.jpg","title":"Wildflowers on the El Calderon Trail","alt":"Hiking in Summer","caption":"Enjoy a stroll along the El Calderon Trail to view beautiful wildflowers in summer.","credit":"NPS Photo/ Maci MacPherson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E2FFF-1DD8-B71B-0B930EEBB4CE85D2.jpg","title":"Sandstone Bluffs Overlook","alt":"Summer at Sandstone Bluffs Overlook","caption":"A vast expanse of lava fields as seen from Sandstone Bluffs Overlook","credit":"NPS Photo/ Maci MacPherson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E331B-1DD8-B71B-0BFA2AA0CF058DB2.jpg","title":"View from El Calderon","alt":"Summer view from El Calderon cinder cone","caption":"A hike to the top of El Calderon cinder cone offers one a view of the entire monument.","credit":"NPS Photo/ Maci MacPherson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E3708-1DD8-B71B-0B6AC3646D5C7E72.jpg","title":"Lava Tube Cave","alt":"Lava Tube caving at El Malpais","caption":"Explore lava tube caving at El Malpais National Monument","credit":"NPS Photo/ Maci MacPherson","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Arts and Culture","Auto and ATV","Scenic Driving","Astronomy","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Caving","Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Walking","Hiking","Hunting and Gathering","Gathering and Foraging","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Park Film","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Animals","Caves, Caverns and Karst","Fire","Unique Species","Rare","Volcanoes"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"El Malpais National Monument","description":"El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the following exceptions:\n\n- Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and the West Zuni-Acoma Trail parking lot are open from sunrise to sunset.\n- 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.\n- El Malpais Emergency Operations Center is currently closed to the public.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"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.","weatherInfo":"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","contacts":{"phone":"5058762783","email":"elma_social_media@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"El Malpais Visitor Center","description":"Located on exit 85 off I-40 in Grants, NM, the El Malpais Visitor Center is staffed by park rangers from the National Park Service. Stop in for maps, information, orientation, cave permits, a Western National Parks bookstore, museum exhibits, and park movies.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm","lat":35.11864976250002,"lon":-107.8288490649312}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"el-malpais-national-conservation-area","km":16},{"slug":"el-morro-national-monument","km":36},{"slug":"cibola-national-forest","km":76},{"slug":"petroglyph-national-monument","km":117},{"slug":"valle-de-oro-national-wildlife-refuge","km":120},{"slug":"sevilleta-national-wildlife-refuge","km":125}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=elma"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.611Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Caution","title":"NPS 300 Road Conditions","text":"NPS 300 to Big Tubes is wet and muddy in spots. A high clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. The road past Big Tubes is very rough and only accessible to high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/driving-to-big-tubes.htm","updated":"2026-11-02 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-D143C837-28F0-4759-B604-8DB084276532"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"All lava tube caves closed November 1 through April 30","text":"All park lava tube caves are closed for the winter from November 1 through April 30 to protect hibernating bats.","url":null,"updated":"2026-10-16 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-2D1B83DF-13C8-428C-B40C-3517B78B5BB6"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"El Calderon Trail closed for construction through November 2026","text":"The El Calderon Trail and parking area are closed from August 2025 through November 2026 for a major improvement project. NPS Road 100 will remain open for local traffic only, and the Continental Divide Trail will remain open for CDT thru-hikers.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/el-calderon-trail-closed.htm","updated":"2026-09-23 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-DF381D66-D1B0-4097-AA24-E18AEF4D0CD2"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/el-malpais-national-monument/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/el-malpais-national-monument.geojson"}