El Malpais National Monument
El Calderon Guided Hike
Join a park ranger at the El Calderon Trailhead to learn more about the fascinating geology of El Malpais' oldest lava flow! Discover how volcanic features developed, the many forms of life found on lava flows, and how both humans and animals have benefitted from this geology. See lava tube caves, beautiful grasslands, old forests, and a cinder cone volcano along this 3-mile guided hike.
Where: Meet at the El Calderon Trailhead located 22 miles south of Grants, NM on Highway 53.
When: This hike starts at 10:00 AM at the El Calderon Trailhead. The guided portion of this hike will take approximately 2 hours but allow another hour to explore the rest of the trail on your own.
Trail Details: El Calderon is a moderately difficult trail with an elevation gain of approximately 300 feet. Most of the trail is gravel with some short stretches of cinder and lava rock. The portion of the trail that this guided hike will follow is about 3 miles long, but there is an optional 4.5-mile loop that will be available after the guided portion of the hike finishes.
What to Bring:
• Comfortable hiking boots
• Warm clothes
• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Comfortable hiking boots
• Warm clothes
• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Hat
Free
Date
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