 | | El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established in 1987 and is a relative newcomer to the National Park System. This monument preserves 114,277 acres of which 109,260 acres are federal and 5,017 acres are private.El Malpais means "the badlands" but contrary to its name this unique area holds many surprises, many of which researchers are now unraveling. Volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure ridges and complex lava tube systems dominate the landscape. Closer inspection reveals unique ecosystems with complex relationships. Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern side, providing access to vast wilderness.For more than 10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais landscape. Historic and archeological sites provide reminders of past times. More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources are kept alive by the spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Indian groups, including the Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo. These tribes continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering herbs and medicines, paying respect, and renewing ties. |
| |  | | | Facilities: Restrooms are provided at El Malpais National Monument. Reservations: Unknown Best Time To Visit: Unknown Fees: Unknown Accessibility: Accessibility is limited. A portion of Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is wheelchair accessible as is a short loop trail at the Zuni-Acoma Trailhead. Restroom facilities at areas throughout the monument are accessible. El Malpais Information Center, the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, and the BLM ranger station are also accessible. Rules: Unknown Directions: To get to El Malpais National Monument from Gallup: travel east on I-40. El Malpais is located south of Grants, NM. Two major state highways border the monument and conservation area and both are accessed via Interstate 40. Exit 89, east of Grants, will take you along NM 117 which forms the eastern boundary. BLM's El Malpais Ranger Station is located 9 miles south of this exit and is open daily. Exit 85 at Grants will take you to the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, a multi-agency facility, located south of exit 85 and is open daily. Exit 81, west of Grants, will take you along NM 53 which forms the northwestern boundary. NPS's El Malpais Information Center is located 23 miles south of this exit and is open daily. | | |
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| | | | Address | | Bureau of Land Management | | P.O. Box 846 | | Grants, New Mexico 87020-0846 |
| | | Phone | | General: (505) 287-7911 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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