El Malpais lies in the high desert of New Mexico, about an hour's drive west of Albuquerque. El Malpais means "the bandlands" in Spanish.

Pictured here from the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook, these badlands are one of the best examples of a recent lava flow in the continental U.S. They were formed about 2000-3000 years ago when lava poured out of McCartys Crater.

A pleasant day on the Sandstone Bluffs during early February.

View of the El Malpais badlands from a trail along the Narrows

View of the El Malpais lava flow from the ground. The terrain is jagged, abraisive, and difficult to hike on.

Close-up view of volcanic rock in El Malpais badland.

La Ventana Arch as seen from Hwy 117.

Close-up of La Ventana Arch from trail.