El Malpais National Monument, eastern NM

[Richie]

The wife and I drove 90 minutes west of town to El Malpais(badlands in spanish) a few weeks ago. Its volcanic features include jagged spatter cones, a lava tube cave system extending at least 17 miles, and fragile ice caves. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to explore any caves. But here are some pics.

 

[Richie]

There are a few 4x4 only roads through out the park. Some went over lava which was cool. But again due to time constraints I didn't explore to much or take many pics.

 

[kai38]

Thanks for the pictures, not what I was expecting of the area. I'm heading there next month. Starting in Aztec NM & heading to the Gila sticking to dirt roads or back roads.
:clapsmile

 

[KMW]

Thanks, that brings back memories! My great-grandfather was an adventurer and gold prospector. In his later years he wrote his memoirs, and those have been handed down through the family. I read them when I was a young teenager; he passed through El Malpais and Acoma a couple of times. Inspired by his tales my buddies and I trekked out there for our high school senior trip, my first overland adventure.

Thanks again, I need to return to that place!