West Malpais Wilderness
West Malpais Wilderness is a 39,540-acre wilderness area in Cibola County, New Mexico. It rises from about 7,049 to 7,611 ft. The nearest town is Pinehill, 13.8 miles away in a straight line.
West Malpais Wilderness map
West Malpais Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
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
- Pinehill, NM is the nearest town, 13.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in West Malpais Wilderness is about 7,611 ft, and its lowest about 7,049 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages West Malpais Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 39,540 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Rio Puerco Field Office, 505-761-8700 |
Getting to West Malpais Wilderness
- Pinehill, NM is the nearest town, 13.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: Interstate 40, Big Tubes Road.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for West Malpais Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-30. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Trailheads at West Malpais Wilderness
- Hole In The Wall Trailhead (inside the boundary, 7,125 ft), at 34.7844, -108.0683
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in West Malpais Wilderness
- Laguna Brillante lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30.
Public lands next to West Malpais Wilderness
- BLM unitWest Malpais Wilderness lies inside El Malpais National Conservation Area.
- National Park Service unitWest Malpais Wilderness borders El Malpais National Monument.
- Wilderness areaCebolla Wilderness is 2.6 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Mexico
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- gis.blm.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.