El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

About El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

The El Malpais WSA consists of several independent tracts of land under consideration for Wilderness designation in conjunction with lands proposed for Wilderness within the El Malpais National Monument (managed by the National Park Service). One tract includes Little Hole-in-the-Wall, a kīpuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground). The kīpuka is surrounded entirely by jagged basalt. This area is covered by piñon-juniper woodlands and open stands of ponderosa pine. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

How to Get There

From I-40, turn south on Highway 53 (Exit 81) at the west end of Grants. Park at the National Park Service's Zuni Acoma Trail trailhead adjacent to and on the south side of Highway 53, about 16 miles south of Interstate 40. Hike approximately 1.5 miles south to the intersection with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Taking the right fork, continue hiking south a short distance, then follow the trail west about a mile to a fence crossing. The El Malpais WSA is on the other side of the fence.

Plan Your Visit to El Malpais Wilderness Study Area

Heading to El Malpais 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)