Skip to main content
Header image
SCENIC BYWAY

El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area Scenic Highway

35.3 miles: 0 hours, 37 minutes

Movie location scouts who haven’t discovered El Malpais National Monument and drive along SR 117 in New Mexico are missing a jewel: with intricately carved black lava flows and caves, towering, layered, 200-year-old sandstone bluffs, and wide-open stretches of green prairie land all in one place, it’s like an encyclopedia of geology.

Alan Levine/iStockphoto.com

After El Malpais Ranger Station (El Malpais means “the bad lands”), take a short detour on Sandstone Bluffs Road for a vista view. Next, see the La Ventana Natural Arch; it’s visible from the road, but the short hike is worth it for a closer look. Take South Narrows Road for a bird's-eye shot of Grants Lava Flows—creations of volcanic activity 3,000 years old.

THE VALUE OF TRIP CANVAS

Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas

Get Ideas from the Pros

As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.

Build and Research Your Options

Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.

Book Everything in One Place

From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!

BACK TO TOP