El Malpais Visitor Center
Address: 1900 E. Santa Fe Ave., Grants, NM 87020
El Malpais, 'the badlands' in Spanish, is a stark young volcanic landscape in western New Mexico where lava flowed as recently as 3,000 years ago, leaving lava tubes, ice caves, cinder cones, and the great La Ventana natural arch. Puebloan peoples know these flows well from centuries of living alongside them.
Peer into the Junction Bridge lava tube, hike the easy El Calderon loop, and see La Ventana arch. For a challenge, get a permit to explore the deep lava tubes of the Big Tubes area, helmets and lights required.
Coordinates: 35.11865, -107.82885