Valley of Fires Recreation Area
6158 US-380, Carrizozo, NM
Carrizozo, NM
A river of black lava frozen in place across the desert, one of the youngest flows in the country, with a trail that carries you right out onto the ropy rock.
Valley of Fires is a vast field of black lava spread across the floor of the Tularosa Basin, one of the youngest lava flows in the continental United States. Known as the Malpais, Spanish for badland, the flow poured from a vent to the north and spread for miles down the basin, cooling into a frozen river of jagged and ropy black rock that looks as if it might still be warm.
The recreation area sits on a low rise, a kind of island, ringed by the lava, with a paved trail that carries visitors right out onto the flow. Up close the black rock reveals itself in astonishing detail, ropy pahoehoe folds, collapsed bubbles and tubes, and pockets where soil has gathered and hardy desert plants have taken hold. It is a rare chance to walk out onto a lava flow young enough that its every ripple is still sharp.
What Guests Love
- Walking a paved trail out onto a genuine, jet-black lava flow
- The strange, ropy textures of the pahoehoe lava underfoot
- Hardy plants and wildlife that have colonized the black rock
- Big Tularosa Basin views with Sierra Blanca on the horizon
Worth Knowing
- The black lava absorbs heat and gets very hot in summer, so go early and carry plenty of water
- The rock is sharp and uneven off the trail, so stay on the paved path and wear sturdy shoes
- Watch for rattlesnakes and cactus among the rocks, and keep to the trail
- There is a small campground and picnic area, but services are limited, so fuel and supplies come from Carrizozo
Details
Carrizozo, NM
Learn about Valley of Fires Recreation Area
One of the youngest lava flows in the country
The Malpais flow at Valley of Fires is geologically very young, poured out only a few thousand years ago, which makes it one of the freshest lava flows in the continental United States. The lava issued from a vent to the north and ran south down the Tularosa Basin for many miles, following the low ground until it cooled and hardened in place.
Because it is so young, the flow has barely begun to weather. Its surfaces still show the ropy folds of pahoehoe lava, the jagged rubble of aa lava, and the collapsed shells of gas bubbles and lava tubes, textures that older flows lose over time. Walking the trail is like reading the record of the eruption, each fold and blister a frozen moment of the lava's last movement.
Life on the black rock
A lava flow looks lifeless at first glance, but Valley of Fires is quietly full of life. Over thousands of years, wind-blown soil has collected in cracks and hollows, and plants have taken root, junipers, cacti, sotol, and grasses, so the black rock is threaded with green. That vegetation in turn supports a surprising range of wildlife.
The flow is home to lizards, snakes, rodents, and birds, and biologists have noted that some creatures here have evolved darker coloring to blend with the black rock, a subtle adaptation to the malpais. Early morning and evening are the best times to see wildlife stirring, and the interplay of dark stone, desert plants, and animal life makes the flow far more than a barren field of rock.
Walking the flow
A paved, largely accessible trail loops out from the visitor area onto the lava, with interpretive signs that explain the eruption, the rock types, and the plants and animals along the way. Staying on the path matters, since the lava off-trail is sharp, uneven, and hard on ankles and shoes, and the surrounding rock hides snakes and cactus.
The black rock soaks up the sun, so on a summer day the flow can grow blistering hot, making an early start and plenty of water essential. In the cooler months, and in the soft light of morning and evening, the walk is a pleasure, with the textures of the lava thrown into relief and the wide basin opening out beyond the edge of the flow.
The Tularosa Basin and when to go
Valley of Fires is one of a string of remarkable landscapes in the Tularosa Basin. To the south lies the gleaming white gypsum of White Sands, a startling counterpoint to this black lava, and to the east rise the Sacramento Mountains and the high peak of Sierra Blanca. Together they make the basin one of the most geologically varied stretches of the Southwest.
Fall, winter, and spring bring the most comfortable weather for walking the flow, with mild temperatures and clear light. Summer is hot, made hotter by the heat-absorbing rock, so early mornings are best. The nearby town of Carrizozo serves as a base and supply point, a small crossroads community with a growing arts scene along old Route 54.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Carrizozo
Carrizozo
About 4 miles east
A small high-desert crossroads town with a burst of murals and galleries, and the supply point for the lava country.
White Sands National Park
About 70 miles south
A vast field of white gypsum dunes, a startling pale counterpoint to the black lava of Valley of Fires.
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site
About 45 miles south
A basalt ridge covered in thousands of ancient carvings, with wide views over the Tularosa Basin.
Lincoln Historic Site
About 40 miles east
The preserved frontier town at the heart of the Lincoln County War and the Billy the Kid story.