El Malpais National Conservation Area — Local services in Grants

There is much more to El Malpais than meets the eye. You could spend weeks here and not hike the same area or see the same things. Some of the jewels are difficult to get and even dangerous if you are not prepared, but the varied topography and geological features are awesome. I hesitate to mention there are tons of Pioneer and Native American ruins to be found and if you do find them, PLEASE, do not disturb them or stand or sit on them and definitely don't take things. Don't forget the Lava Tubes, as they are a unique feature. Some of my pics cover the Conservation Area and others the national Monument. They literally are interconnected, so I often share things about them interchangeably, even though they do have separate organizations for operating them and slightly different rules for usage. I'd recommend going when it is not at the height of summer, as it can be brutally hot on the black lava rock. The forested areas are not so bad, but will still be hot. Drink lots of water, as people have died here due to heat and...

A very interesting place. The lava flow from this shield volcano was quite high. I liked being able to walk on the lava and see all the interesting plants and trees that have taken root in it. Their are many types of flowering plants. You can see the regrowth of the trees nearby that had been damaged. I wish the trail had markers to follow. I didn't see any. The information marker says the trail is 1.1 miles. Have good tennishoes or hiking boots for the trail. It can be a little rough. Their is a restroom by the parking lot with a pit toilet. Their are two picnic tables with grills. Their is no shade. The road in is a little steep but I saw trucks with long campers, etc. The road is gravel which seems to be only one lane. I passed a small car. I wish it were bigger. Note: Really long campers may have some difficulty turning around in the parking lot. The length is maybe the size of a really long camper and truck but the width is the size of a medium to small...

Just like you would expect it any National Park Visitor Center,  the staff and Park Rangers at The Visitor Center were fantastic about giving information regarding the various different trails that could be hiked within this huge National Park. But if you're going to visit the national parks you do not necessarily need to stop at the visitor center before entering any of the trails here. This is a huge Park, so plan to spend some time. Do not let yourself be rushed or you will miss some...