New Mexico · National Monument trail

Lava Falls Trail Stop #5

in New Mexico · centroid 79 mi from Albuquerque

Hot Gases Rise Although you are slightly downhill from McCartys Crater, the inflation ridges around you might look like the opposite. However, these ridges formed from the lava rising up, rather than tall, thick lava flows flowing down. Lava can hold onto gasses, even as a liquid.

Different minerals, such as silica, magnesium, and iron create a texture that can hold on to some gases easier than others. When lava cools, these gases rise upwards and outwards to escape into the air, and sometimes the lava expands with it. A similar process happens when bread bakes and expands in an oven.

Lava with more magnesium is usually more black in color, while high iron levels turn the rock red. Where do you see the differences in this amphitheater? Why do you think some areas inflated while others did not?

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 79 mi · ~2.3 hr drive
Centroid coords: 34.7391°, -107.9819°

About El Malpais National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside El Malpais National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/lafa_stop5.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/elma/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Lava Falls Trail Stop #5 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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Driving in? The nearest documented metro is Albuquerque, NM — 79 miles away (~2.3 hr drive). See accommodation in Albuquerque on Booking.com → RoamFound earns a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we handle affiliate links.