Wilderness.net's West Malpais Wilderness Fact Sheet
Introduction
The United States Congress designated the West Malpais Wilderness
in 1987 and it now has a total of 39,540 acres. All of the wilderness is
in New Mexico and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Description
El Malpais is Spanish for "the badlands," a name that perfectly
describes this region of New Mexico, where countless volcanic
eruptions sent rivers of molten rock and flying cinders over what is
now a rough plain of three million years' worth of hardened lava. The
last of the eruptions would have been witnessed by Native American residents. This volcanic landscape supports a
surprising amount of vegetation. Even on terrain that one would presume to be barren, wind-deposited soil has
thickened enough to support grasses, cacti, aspen, pine, juniper, and fir. One geological feature named
Hole-In-The-Wall, is an area that lava flowed around, leaving an area with developed soils and stands of large
ponderosa pine.
You may see elk, deer, or antelope here, and during summer a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats migrates
between some of the nearby lava tube caves. No groundwater exists, so pack plenty.
The West Malpais Wilderness is within the El Malpais National Conservation Area (managed by the BLM).
Leave No Trace
How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs.
Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the West
Malpais Wilderness.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.
Location
Access: Hole in the Wall Trails (south) From Interstate 40, drive NM 117 south approximately 34 miles to CR 42.
Drive northwest on CR 42 approximately 2¼ miles to the intersection with a road (a West Malpais Wilderness sign is
located at this intersection). Turn right (north) and drive approximately 4.4 miles to a locked gate, which is the
trailhead for the Hole in the Wall. Note that at 3½ miles you will encounter an intersection with a road leading to the
right which looks better maintained. This road leads to a private residence and only authorized vehicles are allowed on
it. The Hole in the Wall trails are occasionally used by the rancher with motorized vehicles, under permit, for livestock
grazing management.
Hole in the Wall Trails (north) From Interstate 40, drive NM 53 south approximately 26 miles to CR 42. Drive CR 43
approximately 4½ miles to the Big Tubes Road. Drive this road 3.3 miles (passing the Big Tubes parking area at 2¾
miles, on the left) and take the left fork. Continue 1¼ miles and take the right fork just past a stock pond at the western
edge of the lava flow. Continue 0.4 miles to the southeast and take the left fork, heading east. Continue 5.4 miles
(crossing a cattle guard at 0.2 miles and entering the forested area at 1¾ miles) to the Cerro Encierro trailhead. Note
that this is a very rough road and that the road and trailhead are located on National Park Service lands. Anyone
wishing to park overnight should contact the National Park Service to inquire about requirements. The Hole in the
Wall trails are occasionally used by the rancher with motorized vehicles, under permit, for livestock grazing
management.
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) (east) The CDNST passes through the southern portion of the
Wilderness. To reach the east side of the trail, from Interstate 40, drive NM 117 south approximately 34 miles to CR
42. Drive northwest on CR 42 approximately 2¼ miles to the intersection with a road (a West Malpais Wilderness sign
is located at this intersection). Turn right (north) and drive approximately ½ mile to a point at which the CDNST
crosses the road. There is no trailhead; you must look for rock cairns and posts marking the trail. Note that both the east
and west ends of the trail are accessed from and connected by CR 42.
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (west) The CDNST passes through the southern portion of the Wilderness.
From Interstate 40, drive NM 53 south approximately 26 miles to CR 42. Drive CR 42 approximately 22½ miles to a
trailhead on the south side of the road. The trailhead is on the opposite side of the road from the Wilderness. Note that
both the east and west ends of the trail are accessed from and connected by CR 42.
Area Management
The West Malpais Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of
lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can
enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse
packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping
to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of
wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the
requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the West Malpais Wilderness to ensure
protection of this unique area.
The West Malpais Wilderness area is managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1974 and the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Manual 6340 - Management of Designated Wilderness Areas.
A person with a disability that requires the use of a wheelchair in wilderness may do so if the wheelchair meets the
definition in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The term wheelchair means a device that is solely
for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion, and is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area.
Contacts
Bureau of Land Management, Rio Puerco Field Office
435 Montaño Rd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Restrictions: Rio Puerco Bureau of Land Management office hours are 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM
Monday through Friday.
Phone: 505-761-8700
Links to Other Websites
BLM West Malpais Wilderness webpage
BLM West Malpais Wilderness webpage
Bureau of Land Management
Links on Wilderness.net
National, Regional and Local Wilderness Organizations (NGOs)
A listing of societies, organizations, coalitions and other wilderness-related advocacy and stewardship groups.
Career and Volunteer Opportunities
A listing of sites providing information about wilderness- and environmentally-related career and volunteer
opportunities.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Law
Date
Acreage Change (in acres)
Public Law 100-225
December 31, 1987
38,210
(No official title, designates New Mexico wildernesses) - Public law 100-225 (12/31/1987) To establish the El
Malpais National Monument and the El Malpais National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, to authorize
the Masau Trail, and for other purposes
download 100-225
General Trip Planning Information
More information (brochures, maps, directions to trailheads, etc.) about the West Malpais Wilderness is available at the
Rio Puerco Field office in Albuquerque, NM.
Information can also be accessed online via this website link:
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/wilderness_and_wsas/wilderness_areas/west_malpais.html
There are two visitor centers that serve the West Malpais Wilderness. The El Malpais Ranger station (505-280-2918) is
located nine miles south of Interstate 40 on Hwy 117 (exit 89). The station is open from 8:30 to 4:30 daily. The second
center is a multi-agency visitor center in Grants, NM (505-876-2783).
Recreational Opportunities
In general, the area offers opportunities for hiking, camping, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
The West Malpais Wilderness is a landscape of volcanic lava flows, mostly flat, and encompasses three main ecotypes.
The southeastern portion of the wilderness is a grassland with wide open expansive views. The western area is a
piñon-juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine is prevalent in the northern portion of the Wilderness. The most distinctive
landform within the West Malpais Wilderness is a 6,700-acre kipuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile
ground) in the north part of the wilderness called Hole-In-The-Wall. Ponderosa pines are sprinkled through the
grassland of the kipuka, which is ringed by a sea of broken, jagged basalt where ponderosa are plentiful. The
Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area.
Climate and Special Equipment Needs
There are no reliable water sources in Cebolla Wilderness or in the surrounding area. Visitors must carry all the water
they will need for the duration of the trip.
Safety and Current Conditions
Dirt roads in this area can become very slick, sticky, and sometimes impassable during and after rain and snowfall.
Check local weather information or contact the El Malpais Ranger station (505-280-2918) prior to travel. The
multi-agency visitor center in Grants, NM, can also be contacted for weather information at 505-876-2783.