El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument in New Mexico. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in El Malpais
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to El Malpais. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At El Malpais the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:20 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:24 PM | 245° | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:55 PM | 255° | 10h 57m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:41 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:44 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:09 PM | 294° | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:59 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:28 PM | 300° | 14h 29m |
| July | 6:10 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:27 PM | 297° | 14h 17m |
| August | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:02 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:56 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:38 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:08 PM | 248° | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:03 PM | 242° | 9h 50m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.8842, -107.9951); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From El Malpais, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.7 | 15° |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:04 AM – 5:04 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:08 AM – 4:28 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 10:15 PM – 4:05 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:10 PM – 2:40 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:35 PM – 12:35 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:46 PM – 10:36 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:42 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
As a general rule, daily temperatures swing roughly 30 (F) from night lows to afternoon highs. Summer is sunny and hot with monsoon rain storms and an average high of 80 (F). Winter is cool, sunny, with potential snow storms and an average high of 45 (F). Spring and fall are generally dry with the occasional storm rain and/or snow storm. For more information on weather and current weather conditions visit https://www.nps.gov/elma/planyourvisit/weather.htm
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (55%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
No roads exist through El Malpais National Monument. To explore the east side of the park, take exit 89 off I-40 and head south on Highway 117. To explore the north side of the park, take exit 81 off I-40 and head south on Highway 53. To reach the visitor center, take exit 85 off I-40 in Grants, New Mexico. After you exit, head south on Santa Fe Ave and continue straight over the freeway overpass. Take a left at the entrance sign for El Malpais Visitor Center and continue 300 yards to the parking lot.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Caving
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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