National Monument · NM

Things to do in El Malpais

The National Park Service lists 8 things to do at El Malpais National Monument. 8 have no extra fee, 8 need no reservation, and 8 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

All (8) Hiking (3)Front-Country Hiking (2)Stargazing (1)Backcountry Hiking (1)Wildlife Watching (1)
A hiker with a headlamp looks up at the star-filled night sky. The Milky Way Galaxy creates a band o
Photo: NPS Photo

El Malpais Night Skies

Explore the Milky Way, countless stars, and planets any time of year! You don’t have to travel far into El Malpais to look deep into space!

1-8 Hours Year-round Pets allowed

Stargazing

a tall sandstone bluff colored red by sunset under a darkening sky
Photo: NPS Photo

Explore Sandstone Bluffs Overlook

Gaze across one of the youngest lava flows in the continental U.S. from the vantage of a high sandstone bluff created during the time of the dinosaurs. Explore the cliffs for different views, including a glimpse of New Mexico's second highest mountain!

15-60 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

A group of hikers heads down a gravel trail through grass with trees in the distance
Photo: NPS Photo

Hike the El Calderon Trail

El Calderon Area at El Malpais National Monument offers easy to moderate difficulty hiking past lava tube caves, over ancient lava flows, and around the top of an extinct cinder cone. This trail can be hiked as a 3 mile or 5 mile route.

1-3 Hours Year-round Pets allowed

Hiking

view over a flat, dark landscape dotted with small trees framed by high sandstone outcroppings
Photo: NPS Photo

Hike the Narrows Rim Trail

Spectacular panoramic views of the lava flows at El Malpais and surrounding landscape are the main attraction of this hike. You may also encounter ravens and other birds of prey enjoying the thermal uplifts here.

1-6 Hours Year-round Pets allowed

Hiking

Bats fly over a lava tube cave at sunset.
Photo: NPS Photo

See a Bat Outflight at Bat Cave

On warm summer evenings, Mexican free-tailed bats burst from a lava tube known as Bat Cave for a night of hunting insects over the lava flows of El Malpais National Monument. Witness this phenomenon for yourself along the El Calderon Trail off Highway 53.

1-2 Hours Summer Pets allowed

Wildlife Watching

Trees grow on rugged black lava
Photo: NPS Photo

Traverse the Lava Falls Trail

Take a hike on the youngest lava flow in El Malpais National Monument and in New Mexico. You will encounter numerous unique volcanic features on this one- mile cairned route.

1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed

Hiking

Before you go

Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for El Malpais. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.

Things to do at nearby parks

Sources