Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area

About Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area

The Chain of Craters WSA is located in west-central New Mexico within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. This is a line of more than 25 cinder cones that was the result of magma finding a weak spot in the Earth's crust. The lower elevations are dominated by piсon and juniper woodland giving way to forests of ponderosa pine at higher elevations. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

How to Get There

From I-40 at the west end of Grants, turn south on Highway 53 (Exit 81) and drive about 26 miles. Turn south on County Road 42, about one mile after the Bandera Crater Ice Caves turnoff. County Road 42 passes through El Malpais National Monument for approximately 3 miles before entering BLM's El Malpais National Conservation Area. Continue approximately 15 miles to a Y intersection. Turn right and continue another half mile to where the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail crosses the road. Hike north on the trail (there is no trailhead, and the trail is marked with cairns) into the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area

Heading to Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)