New Mexico · National Monument trail

Lava Falls Trail Stop #7

in New Mexico · centroid 79 mi from Albuquerque

Pockets of Life Lava does not always stay the same when it stops moving. As lava is exposed to outside air, it begins to cool. As lava cools, it contracts or shrinks, cracks, and sometimes falls apart.

Rock may break apart and fall if there is nothing below a rock ceiling to hold it up, much like the sink holes and other collapse features around you. You don't need to worry about lava collapsing around you today: the cooling process ended between 1,900 and 3,900 years ago. As life begins to move in to lava landscapes, it takes advantage of the shade, moisture, and protection that is in sink holes and other lava features.

Summers on the lava are hot, sunny, and dry, but sink holes create pockets of cooler temperatures, indirect sunlight, and moisture. Sinkholes also house precious water sources. If enough rain water or melted snow collects at the bottom of a sink hole, ice forms in small pools or rounded towers and remain a source of water for life in the area.

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 79 mi · ~2.3 hr drive
Centroid coords: 34.7373°, -107.9805°

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_stop7.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 #7 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.