Greetings from El Malpais National Monument

The discovery of El Malpais National Monument was the perfect change of pace from a day of driving down the interstate watching the landscape whiz by.

El Maplais is a combination of sandstone bluffs, dating back to the age of dinosaurs, and lava fields located in a valley outside of Grants, New Mexico.

What a terrific find for sunset photos! The sandstone bluffs glowed gold. It was an easy drive on well-marked roads to a ridge of sandstone that offered views of El Maplais and the surrounding countryside.

The sunlight was brilliant reflecting off of El Maplais’ creating golden bluffs. I stayed not wanting to miss any color changes to the sandstone as the sun began its descent.

Up at dawn the next morning, I discovered other scenic drives, overlooks and places for walks on the lava fields.

Sincerely,
Leandra

El Malpais National Monument

This diverse volcanic landscape includes lava tube caves and lava bridges, sandstone bluffs, open grasslands, forest, and the 125-foot La Ventana Arch, one of the most accessible natural rock arches in New Mexico.

State(s): New Mexico

Established: 1987

“they are the perfect place to refresh and renew one's spirit.”

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park

    My family and I were blessed enough to stay at the Grand Canyon. North realm last summer. The Grand Canyon Lodge and the cabins next-door were incredible and the views were unbelievable. We really enjoyed having dinner looking out the Lodge Restaurant over the Grand Canyon. We all must do…

  • Greetings from Mount Rushmore National Memorial

    When my son was in 5th grade, his English teacher shared a list of places they “must see”. On that list was Mount Rushmore. In the summer of 2000, when our boys were 8 & 10, we took a 5 week family vacation across the US, with National Parks as…

  • Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park

    My dad was a seasonal ranger at Bryce and we had been to all the National parks in the southwest. We took our kids when they were teens to Grand Canyon and I was holding my breath when they looked our over that magnificent vista, because I fully expected some…

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now