About El Malpais
El Malpais translates to "the badlands" in Spanish. El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) was established to protect this rare, semi-desert, volcanic landscape that contains significant geological, archaeological, ecological, cultural, scenic, scientific, and wilderness resources surrounding the Grants Lava Flows.
This rich landscape has had a human presence since prehistoric times, ancient petroglyphs bear silent witness to their passage. Contemporary Indians including the Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna and Zumi, and the Ramah Navajo still revere many of the sacred cultural sites. Lava flows are the dominant geologic feature created by volcanic activity as recently as 800 years ago. Swirling flows of lava, cinder cones, craters and caves are easily recognizable throughout this vast, rugged landscape. Situated between 6,500 and 8.000 feet above sea level, the vegetation includes scattered juniper and scrub grasses. This area has numerous trails available for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
El Malpais Facts
- Location: Northwest New Mexico (72 miles East of Albuquerque, 23 miles South of Grants)
- Size: 263,000 acres
- Date: El Malpais was designated a National Conservation Area in 1987 at the same time the adjacent El Malpais National Monument was created
- Managing Agency: The Bureau of Land Management
