Joe Skeen Campground (BLM, adjacent)
Details- Season
- Year-round
- Sites
- Free, first-come primitive sites off Highway 117 with vault toilets and no water.
- The easiest base for the lava flows, the arch, and an early cave trip.
National Park Service · New Mexico
El Malpais National Monument
A rugged volcanic badland of black lava flows, collapsed lava-tube caves, and sandstone bluffs south of Grants, where a free caving permit is the key to going underground.
Field briefing
El Malpais National Monument changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
El Malpais is a raw volcanic landscape just off I-40 south of Grants, and the planning hinge is the caves.
The lava flows are hollowed by lava-tube caves, and entering any of them requires a free caving permit issued at the El Malpais or El Morro visitor center, plus a helmet, gloves, and at least three independent light sources. Above ground the monument is free with no entrance fee, and the headline drive-up sights are the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and La Ventana Natural Arch. The lava is sharp and the terrain exposed, so wear sturdy boots and carry water. Note that some cave access can be limited by trail projects, so check current conditions before counting on a specific cave.
- Best window
- April to June and September to October for mild days on the exposed lava
- Signature routes
- Lava-tube caves, Sandstone Bluffs Overlook
- Pack focus
- Water, route logistics, weather checks
El Malpais in photos
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Location
New Mexico
Established
1987
Size
114k acres
Best time
April to June and September to October for mild days on the exposed lava
Entrance
No entrance fee. A free caving permit is required to enter any lava-tube cave.
Nearest airport
Albuquerque (ABQ) about 1.5 hours
When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Low crowds
Mild days, cold nights, and wind, with cool air still pooled in the lava-tube caves.
Pack Layers, sturdy boots for sharp lava, and a free caving permit if going underground.
Summer
Moderate crowds
Hot and exposed on the dark lava, with afternoon monsoon storms and little shade.
Pack Lots of water, sun protection, and an early start before the lava radiates heat.
Fall
Moderate crowds
Clear, mild, and calm, the best all-around hiking weather on the flows and bluffs.
Pack Layers, good boots, and a headlamp plus backups for the caves.
Winter
Low crowds
Cold with snow and ice, and some lava-tube caves hold ice year-round.
Pack Warm layers, traction, and caution on icy lava and in ice-floored caves.
Top things to do
Lava-tube caves
A network of collapsed lava tubes, including Big Skylight and Giant Ice, that you can explore with a free caving permit, a helmet, and multiple light sources.
Sandstone Bluffs Overlook
A drive-up overlook on the sandstone rim with a sweeping panorama across the black lava flows below.
La Ventana Natural Arch
One of the largest natural arches in New Mexico, a quarter-mile walk up to its base along Highway 117.
How long to spend
Anchor the day around Lava-tube caves
Put permit timing ahead of ambition, then build the route around what is actually approved. For one day in El Malpais National Monument, make Lava-tube caves the non-negotiable, add Sandstone Bluffs Overlook only if the first stop runs clean, and keep La Ventana Natural Arch as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Lava-tube caves: A network of collapsed lava tubes, including Big Skylight and Giant Ice, that you can explore with a free caving permit, a helmet, and multiple light sources.
- 2Add Sandstone Bluffs Overlook: A drive-up overlook on the sandstone rim with a sweeping panorama across the black lava flows below.
- 3Use La Ventana Natural Arch as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn El Malpais's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for El Malpais National Monument. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
El Malpais National Monument packing list
0 of 16 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what El Malpais National Monument asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Rain jacket, Insulated jacket, 1 more
Checklist mode
16 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
Gear for El Malpais
The buying guides that match what El Malpais asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
There is no developed campground inside the national monument itself, but the free, first-come Joe Skeen Campground sits just off Highway 117 on the adjacent BLM conservation area, and backcountry camping is allowed in the monument with a free permit. For a roof, Grants, just north on I-40, is the gateway town with motels, restaurants, and supplies, and Gallup or Albuquerque offer more a bit farther out.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Camp free at nearby Joe Skeen, but the permit that matters most is the free caving permit for the lava tubes.
El Malpais has no developed campground of its own; the free, first-come Joe Skeen Campground on the neighboring BLM land is the easy base, and primitive backcountry camping is allowed with a free permit. The real planning step is the free caving permit, required for any lava-tube cave and picked up at a visitor center.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Joe Skeen Campground is free and first-come. Caving and backcountry permits are free and issued same-day at the visitor centers.
- A free caving permit is required to enter any lava-tube cave and is issued at the El Malpais or El Morro visitor center.
- Cave exploration requires a helmet, gloves, and at least three independent light sources per person.
- Joe Skeen Campground, on the BLM conservation area off Highway 117, is free and first-come.
- Some cave or trail access can be limited by improvement projects, so confirm current conditions before you rely on a specific cave.
Where to book or verify
El Malpais caving permits
How and where to get the free caving permit and what gear is required underground.
El Malpais permits and reservations
NPS page covering caving and backcountry permits.
Search Recreation.gov
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Getting there and practical info
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Get to El Malpais National Monument, then remove the first-morning friction.
- Nearest airport
- Albuquerque (ABQ) about 1.5 hours
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- New Mexico
Arrival note
El Malpais sits just south of Grants, New Mexico, straddling two highways off I-40.
Access note
Highway 117 runs down the east side past the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and La Ventana Arch, while Highway 53 runs down the west side past the El Calderon area and on toward El Morro.
Shuttle access
The main visitor center is at I-40 exit 85.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit for El Malpais lava-tube caves?
Yes, but it is free. A caving permit is required to enter any lava-tube cave and is issued at the El Malpais or El Morro visitor center. You also need a helmet, gloves, and at least three independent light sources before you go underground.
Is there an entrance fee at El Malpais?
No. El Malpais has no entrance fee. Caving and backcountry permits are also free, and the nearby Joe Skeen Campground is free as well.
What are the must-see stops at El Malpais?
The drive-up Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and the quarter-mile walk to La Ventana Natural Arch are the easiest highlights. Beyond them, hiking out onto the lava flows and exploring a lava-tube cave with a free permit are the deeper experiences.
Where can you camp at El Malpais?
There is no developed campground in the monument itself. The free, first-come Joe Skeen Campground sits just off Highway 117 on the adjacent BLM land, and primitive backcountry camping is allowed in the monument with a free permit.