El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Cibola County, New Mexico. There is no entrance fee. It is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Oct. 5, 2026.
- Closure: El Calderon Trail closed for construction through November 2026 The El Calderon Trail and parking area are closed from August 2025 through November 2026 for a major improvement project. NPS Road 100 will remain open for local traffic only, and the Continental Divide Trail will remain open for CDT thru-hikers.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for El Malpais National Monument on the managing agency's own page.
El Malpais National Monument map
El Malpais National Monument boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
This unit's own agency alerts list no fire restriction as of Oct. 5, 2026. We do not check a statewide fire-order feed for NM, so that is not a statement that no order exists, and not a green light for a fire. Check with the land manager and your county before you light anything.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Yes. El Malpais National Monument has no entrance fee.
- Yes. El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
- Campsites must be reserved ahead.
Fees, passes, and hours
El Malpais National Monument has no entrance fee.
El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Sources: nps.gov, checked 2026-09-30; nps.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Camping in El Malpais National Monument
Campsites must be reserved ahead.
Source: nps.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Getting there
- Nearest town: San Rafael, 15.1 miles
Source: www2.census.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Public lands next to El Malpais National Monument
- Wilderness areaEl Malpais National Monument borders Cebolla Wilderness.
- National forestEl Malpais National Monument borders Cibola National Forest.
- BLM unitEl Malpais National Monument borders El Malpais National Conservation Area.
- Wilderness areaEl Malpais National Monument borders West Malpais Wilderness.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- nps.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- nps.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- nps.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- nps.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.