El Malpais National Monument - New Mexico
Photo of El Malpais National Monument courtesy NPS
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.El Malpais is managed by a joint effort between the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. For information about El Malpais National Conservation Area contact:Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box 846 Grants, NM 87020-0846 (505) 287-7911Visit our expanded pages at www.nps.gov/elma/home.htmHave you visited El Malpais National Monument?
- Do you have a favorite campsite or one to avoid?
- What is your favorite trail?
Facilities available at El Malpais National Monument:
El Malpais National Monument website
Recreation Area Map
Park Email: Leslie_DeLong@nps.gov
Phone numbers
Headquarters 505-285-4641
Visitor Information 505-783-4774
Visitor Information 505-876-2783
Address
123 E. Roosevelt Avenue
Grants, NM 87020
