El Malpais - El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais National Monument is located in central western New Mexico midway between Albuquerque and Gallup along I-40. The park consists of more than 100,000 acres and is bounded by wilderness, national forest, and the Ramah Navajo and Acoma Indian Reservations. The park feature high plateau pine and juniper forests, sandstone cliffs, and volcanoes with extensive lava flows of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field. Volcanic eruptions have occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago (NPS, 2009d, NPS, 2005, Theilig, 1990). This view is looking north from the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook on the east side of the park.