El Malpais National Conservation Area

Welcome to El Malpais National Conservation Area located next to El Malpais National Monument. Both parks were established in 1987 and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. El Malpais is Spanish for “the badlands.” this park was established in order to protect archeological, ecological, geological, scenic, scientific, cultural and wilderness resources of national significance.

The parks’ majestic landscapes include La Ventana Natural Arch, the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway, sandstone cliffs, and the Narrows picnic area. The park’s elevation ranges from as low as 6,500 feet ASL to as high as more than 8,000 feet ASL and precipitation averages less than 10 inches per year. Park History: The park’s earliest human inhabitants first arrived in the region over 10,000 years ago and these include the Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna and Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo.

For the lover of the outdoors this park boasts miles of multipurpose trails, numerous campsites, scenic overlooks, and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!