El Malpais National Monument. HERE Courtesy of N.P.S. El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established in 1987 and is a relative newcomer to the National Park System. This monument preserves 114,277 acres of which 109,260 acres are federal and 5,017 acres are private. Volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure ridges and complex lava tube systems dominate the landscape.
Closer inspection reveals unique ecosystems with complex relationships.
Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern side, providing access to vast wilderness. .