El Malpais National Monument protects a volcanic landscape of jagged lava flows, cinder cones, and an extensive system of lava tube caves that stretches at least 17 miles underground. The terrain is harsh and striking — black basalt rock, ponderosa pine struggling up through cracks, and views across the high desert to Mount Taylor. La Ventana Natural Arch, within the adjacent National Conservation Area along Highway 117, is the largest natural arch in New Mexico.
The monument is accessible from two sides. From Highway 53 to the south, you can visit Bandera Volcano and its permanently frozen ice cave — a surreal sight in the New Mexico desert. From Highway 117 to the east, the Zuni-Acoma Trail crosses the lava flow, linking two of the pueblos that have occupied this landscape for centuries. Free maps are available at the visitor centre in Grants.