Cibola County: Lava, Trails and Culture

El Malpais National Monument lies within Cibola County and is surrounded by the 263,000-acre El Malpais National Conservation Area. Planning a trip here brings volcanic landscapes together with trails and cultural attractions. The routes described range from short paths near a parking lot to the 8-mile Narrows Rim Trail.

Volcanic Landscapes and Trails

At the El Malpais Visitor Center, rangers can assist you, and exhibits cover northwestern New Mexico. A short 0.5-mile trail starts near the parking lot. A roughly two-mile hike loops around Hoya de Cibola. The Narrows Rim Trail starts near the turnoff and is 8 miles (12.8 km) long.

Two shorter routes can be compared by their stated durations: the Inscription Rock Trail at El Morro is 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long and takes about 45 minutes. The trail to Bandera Volcano is just under half a mile long; allow about 40 minutes for the round trip. The estimated times are close, even though the routes differ in length. Self-guided walks to Bandera Volcano and Perpetual Ice Cave take about an hour at a leisurely pace.

Geological Features

The caves also tell different stories about the volcanic landscape. Lava Bomb Cave has a skylight that formed when a lava bomb fell from a nearby volcanic vent into a lava tube. Ice Cave lies in a collapsed lava channel. Its temperature never rises above 31 °F year-round, and natural layers of ice have been forming there for more than 3,400 years. One site highlights an opening formed by a lava bomb, while another is known for the long-term formation of natural ice layers.

Culture, Museums and Local History

Current offerings at Acoma Sky City Pueblo include guided tours. The Haak'u Museum presents Acoma history, creativity and culture. At Market Plaza, Acoma artists share, create and pass on living traditions. The Western New Mexico Airways Heritage Museum explores the history of early air travel: restored buildings, aviation artifacts and the route of the original radio beacons bring the subject to life. The Route 66 Vintage Museum displays historic artwork, postcards, photographs and other antiques recalling the heyday of Route 66.

Route 66 also offers a distinct planning consideration: most of the road remains drivable in Cibola County. Los Portales is a shrine for religious worship in the forests of Cibola County near Seboyeta. Together, these places show different facets, from Acoma culture and early aviation to religious worship and the history of Route 66.

When looking for a hotel for your stay, first decide whether landscapes, hiking or culture will be the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Grants, Mesita, Pueblo Of Acoma, Sandoval, Torrance County, Lincoln, San Juan, Taos

See the regional travel overview: New Mexico.