El Malpais National Monument Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
national monument in the United States
About El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established in 1987. The national monument protects 114,277 acres of volcanic landscape, while the adjacent national conservation area protects an additional 263,000 acres. The area has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, and historic and archeological sites provide reminders of past times. To this day Indian groups including the Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo still utilize the park for traditional activities including gathering herbs and medicines, paying respect, and renewing ties. El Malpais (pronouncedel-mal-pie-EES) means "the badlands", so named due to the volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure ridges and complex lava tube cave systems that dominate the landscape. Sandstone bluffs and mesas b
Top Attractions in El Malpais National Monument
Explore the best things to see and do in El Malpais National Monument:
- ★Bandera Crater Ice Caves
- ★Big Skylight Cave
- ★El Malpais Information Center
- ★El Malpais Visitor Center
- ★Giant Ice Cave
- ★Junction Cave
- ★Lava Falls Area
- ★La Ventana Natural Arch
Where to Stay in El Malpais National Monument
- 🏨Near Sandstone Bluffs
- 🏨The Narrows
El Malpais National Monument Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: