Visiting other worlds has always been a fascinating concept in science fiction, especially when these imagined places look so bizarre. We still may be pretty far from being able to visit whatever alien planets exist within and outside our galaxy but you don’t have to travel far to find a place that feels otherworldly. This underground cave hike in New Mexico will do exactly that:
One of our favorite places to check out such a world is at El Malpais National Monument, located about 35 minutes from Grants.
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr
The national monument has some truly beautiful sights all around thanks to the volcanic activity that took place thousands of years ago.
Jason Cross/Flickr
However, it’s the lava tube caves located here that really capture the essence of another world.
El Malpais National Monument/Facebook
El Malpais has five lava tubes open for exploration, each of which were formed by molten lava flowing under the surface of a channel, eventually leaving behind a cave.
Beth/Flickr
If you’ve ever been interested in caving, these are great places to get started. Each requires some degree of climbing or scrambling over boulders or crouching during your hike.
El Malpais National Monument/Facebook
Just keep in mind these places get incredibly dark, so you will need to arrive prepared.
Beth/Flickr Before your visit, make sure you have two light sources (headlamps are perfect), gloves, comfortable hiking clothing worn in layers, and water. Once you arrive at the national monument, stop by the visitor center for a cave permit.
So, are you ready to add these caves to your bucket list? It’s one adventure you won’t forget!
Ryan Ludwig/Flickr
El Malpais National Monument is located approximately 35 minutes from Grants via NM Highway 53. You can find details about visiting the monument by visiting the National Park Service website.
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr
Jason Cross/Flickr
El Malpais National Monument/Facebook
Beth/Flickr
Before your visit, make sure you have two light sources (headlamps are perfect), gloves, comfortable hiking clothing worn in layers, and water. Once you arrive at the national monument, stop by the visitor center for a cave permit.
Ryan Ludwig/Flickr
Want to check out more incredible caves in New Mexico? You will be astounded by the ones mentioned in Going Into These 5 Caves In New Mexico Is Like Entering Another World!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, 1900 E Santa Fe Ave, Grants, NM 87020, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Underground Cave Hike In New Mexico August 12, 2020 Leah What are the most beautiful caves in New Mexico? New Mexico’s varying natural scenery can be just as stunning beneath the surface as it is above. Caves like the popular Carlsbad Caverns are great for exploring. The mesmerizing geological formations in the cave draw in thousands of visitors each year. The Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave is a natural wonder. This is the third-longest cave in the state and it’s named after the solidified bed of bright white calcite that coats dry stream beds throughout it. New Mexico even has caves that are literal works of art: Ra Paulette’s hand-carved caves. The manmade caves are carefully designed and chiseled out to be like something from a fairytale. What are the most unique hikes in New Mexico? After taking this unique underground cave hike in New Mexico, try some of the other one-of-a-kind trails throughout the state. You can hike the rim of an actual volcano on the Crater Rim Trail on the Capulin Volcano. The strikingly bright White Sands National Monument has the Alkali Flat Trail that traverses the sandy dunes. See incredibly colorful and unusual landscapes on a trail through the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, where striped hoodoos and rugged terrain offer unique views. You can hike to the top of New Mexico’s highest mountain on Wheeler Peak on a strenuous 13-mile round trip. It’ll take you to heights of over 13,000 feet. Where can I go on an outdoor adventure in New Mexico? Let out your inner adventurer when you check out some of the Land of Enchantment’s coolest places. The Rio Grande Gorge is both beautiful and exhilarating when you experience it through activities like whitewater rafting. Enjoy a refreshing swim out in the canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains and right below a waterfall at Sitting Bull Falls. The 150-foot falls cascade gently into the cooling pool below, making it quite the memorable destination. The Organ Mountains are an iconic part of New Mexico’s landscape and in one of the state’s newer national monuments, you can see them for yourself on miles and miles of trails.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Underground Cave Hike In New Mexico
August 12, 2020
Leah
What are the most beautiful caves in New Mexico? New Mexico’s varying natural scenery can be just as stunning beneath the surface as it is above. Caves like the popular Carlsbad Caverns are great for exploring. The mesmerizing geological formations in the cave draw in thousands of visitors each year. The Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave is a natural wonder. This is the third-longest cave in the state and it’s named after the solidified bed of bright white calcite that coats dry stream beds throughout it. New Mexico even has caves that are literal works of art: Ra Paulette’s hand-carved caves. The manmade caves are carefully designed and chiseled out to be like something from a fairytale. What are the most unique hikes in New Mexico? After taking this unique underground cave hike in New Mexico, try some of the other one-of-a-kind trails throughout the state. You can hike the rim of an actual volcano on the Crater Rim Trail on the Capulin Volcano. The strikingly bright White Sands National Monument has the Alkali Flat Trail that traverses the sandy dunes. See incredibly colorful and unusual landscapes on a trail through the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, where striped hoodoos and rugged terrain offer unique views. You can hike to the top of New Mexico’s highest mountain on Wheeler Peak on a strenuous 13-mile round trip. It’ll take you to heights of over 13,000 feet. Where can I go on an outdoor adventure in New Mexico? Let out your inner adventurer when you check out some of the Land of Enchantment’s coolest places. The Rio Grande Gorge is both beautiful and exhilarating when you experience it through activities like whitewater rafting. Enjoy a refreshing swim out in the canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains and right below a waterfall at Sitting Bull Falls. The 150-foot falls cascade gently into the cooling pool below, making it quite the memorable destination. The Organ Mountains are an iconic part of New Mexico’s landscape and in one of the state’s newer national monuments, you can see them for yourself on miles and miles of trails.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Mexico’s varying natural scenery can be just as stunning beneath the surface as it is above. Caves like the popular Carlsbad Caverns are great for exploring. The mesmerizing geological formations in the cave draw in thousands of visitors each year. The Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave is a natural wonder. This is the third-longest cave in the state and it’s named after the solidified bed of bright white calcite that coats dry stream beds throughout it. New Mexico even has caves that are literal works of art: Ra Paulette’s hand-carved caves. The manmade caves are carefully designed and chiseled out to be like something from a fairytale.
What are the most unique hikes in New Mexico?
After taking this unique underground cave hike in New Mexico, try some of the other one-of-a-kind trails throughout the state. You can hike the rim of an actual volcano on the Crater Rim Trail on the Capulin Volcano. The strikingly bright White Sands National Monument has the Alkali Flat Trail that traverses the sandy dunes. See incredibly colorful and unusual landscapes on a trail through the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, where striped hoodoos and rugged terrain offer unique views. You can hike to the top of New Mexico’s highest mountain on Wheeler Peak on a strenuous 13-mile round trip. It’ll take you to heights of over 13,000 feet.
Where can I go on an outdoor adventure in New Mexico?
Let out your inner adventurer when you check out some of the Land of Enchantment’s coolest places. The Rio Grande Gorge is both beautiful and exhilarating when you experience it through activities like whitewater rafting. Enjoy a refreshing swim out in the canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains and right below a waterfall at Sitting Bull Falls. The 150-foot falls cascade gently into the cooling pool below, making it quite the memorable destination. The Organ Mountains are an iconic part of New Mexico’s landscape and in one of the state’s newer national monuments, you can see them for yourself on miles and miles of trails.
