La Ventana Natural Arch in El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico in the American Southwest

El Malpais National Monument is a rough and tumble stop just off of I-40 filled with volcanic domes, lava tubes, sandstone walls, arches, caves, archaeological ruins, hikes, lava fields, campgrounds, & more!
La Ventana Natural Arch, just off the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (117) in the Narrows is a massive arch that’s easily viewed from the roadside stop.
Lava tubes, natural bridges, and volcanic caves are easily walked to in the Big Tubes area where you can explore 10,000 year old lava flows. There’s even an ice cave with year round ice!
The Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is another great stop on your way to volcano adventures. Also be sure to spot the many peaks that trail off into the distances. The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway takes your car through these 30 craters from 200,000 years ago.
There’s also a great camping spot at Joe Skeen Campground complete with 10 sites, toilets, and totally awesome sunsets.
“For a real experience in contrast, visit the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, "The Land of Fire and Ice," right on the Continental Divide. Walk through the twisted old-growth Juniper, Fir, and Ponderosa Pine trees; over the ancient lava trails; down into the cave; and into a dormant volcano. Inside the cave, the natural layers of ice glisten blue-green in the reflected rays of sunlight illuminating natural arctic algae. Take a walk around the Bandera Volcano and view one of the best examples of volcanic eruption in the country. Browse the historic Ice Caves Trading Post featuring ancient artifacts, geologic souvenirs, refreshing snacks, and warm New Mexican hospitality.” That was written and is posted on the Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano Website and I couldn’t have said it any better. It’s open March through November and at only $12 for adults, it’s absolutely worth it. The website also says it only takes about an hour to leisurely walk both sites and although I probably did it a little faster, it’s worth a nice stroll to take it all in.
The walk to the ice cave is nice and the cave itself is surprisingly cold at around 31° F year round.
The hike to the volcano is also easy and the view from the top lets you see the many other volcanoes that sit on the continental divide.
The Big Tubes Area of El Malpais National Monument is definitely the highlight, in my opinion. It’s got fields of lava 10 feet tall off the ground, natural bridges, lava tubes, & ice caves! The NPS Website now says that the lava tubes and caves are closed from November 1st through April 30th, but I don’t believe that was the case when I went in 2018. Check the NPS website to make sure.
The Big Tubes Area is accessed by taking County Road 42 to the Big Tubes Road and traveling 4.5 miles to the parking area, which you can’t miss. Be careful though, if there’s a lot of snow or if the road’s wet, it can be impassable.
Once you’ve parked your car, you’ll set out for about .5 miles of hiking on soft ground before you reach the tough and rough on your shoes lava rocks. In the summer they can be hot as heck and they’re sharp so watch your step! Big Skylight Cave and the lava bridge are to your left but the entire hike loop and exploration is a little over 2 miles. The trail is only marked by stacked rock cairns so be on the lookout. Don’t leave your stack until you see the next one if you’re not great at directions. I usually hate rock cairns and have been known to kick them over, but out here, they can be all you’ve got to get you back to the parking lot.
Beyond Skylight Cave and the lava bridge there’s Giant Ice Cave, Four Windows Junction, Seven Bridges Overview, & more!