El Malpais National Monument — Zuni-Acoma Trailhead at NM-117

Pull off NM-117 at the signed Zuni-Acoma trailhead and you’re standing at the edge of a 115,000-year-old lava flow that looks like the surface of the moon. The trail cuts west across the malpais, crossing cinder cones, lava tubes, and ancient Puebloan travel routes. There’s a small parking area, interpretive signage, and a register box — no water, no toilets, no shade. Come early; this lava reflects heat like a skillet by midday in summer.

Access is straightforward off NM-117, a paved road south of I-40. The pullout is well-signed. Rangers at the El Malpais Information Center in Grants (about 23 miles northwest) are your best resource for current trail conditions and fire closures. Carry at least a gallon of water per person — there is zero water on this crossing.

Where the lava crossing begins.