The Long Way
Lincoln County
An elevated view of an RV campground set in a desert landscape with mountains in the distance.
Plate I. Campground area, Valley of Fires Recreation Area. From blm.gov
A vast desert landscape featuring dark volcanic rock fields under a clear blue sky.
Plate II. Lava field landscape, Valley of Fires. From blm.gov

Malpais Nature Trailhead (Valley of Fires)

Carrizozo, Lincoln County, New Mexico. BLM recreation area and nature trailhead; Open year-round.

Details

Map. Carrizozo, Lincoln County, New Mexico. Larger map
Where
6158 U.S. Highway 380, Carrizozo, NM 88301. Directions
When
Open year-round.
Getting there
Travel four miles west of the town of Carrizozo on U.S. Highway 380. Valley of Fires recreation area is on the left.
Fees
Day Use - single vehicle, $5. Tent Camping - $15. RV Camping with water and electric - $25; without water and electric - $15. Group Shelter - $35. Tour Bus - $15. Shower Fee - $6. Dump Station - $30 per use.
Access
Service animals, like other animals, must be kept on a leash to keep them safe from wildlife, cacti and sharp lava rocks.
Walk-in or reserve
Campsite 12 is reservable via Recreation.gov; Campsite 4 is first-come, first-served.
Phone
575-648-2241
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management, Roswell Field Office.
Coordinates
33.6848, -105.92001.

A BLM recreation area immediately adjacent to the Carrizozo Malpais lava flow, four miles west of Carrizozo, NM, on US Highway 380, with paved accessible nature trails through the lava surface, RV and tent camping, showers, an accessible Visitor Center, a Junior Ranger program, and a new Kipuka Trail.

Notable Events

  1. 1400Petroglyphs, occasional bits of pottery, and stone spalls along the edges of the flows testify to visits by Indians of the Jornada Branch of the Mogollon Culture. geoinfo.nmt.edu
  2. 1965The BLM gave the Valley of Fires land to the state to develop as a park, according to BLM and State of New Mexico records. blm.gov
  3. 1966Because of its unusual scenic and scientific features, a 463-acre tract adjoining the highway was dedicated as the Valley of Fires State Park on May 6, 1966. geoinfo.nmt.edu
  4. 1989The state reconveyed the Valley of Fires land to the BLM. blm.gov
  5. 2026The Roswell Field Office added new interpretive signs along the existing Malpais Nature Trail, the new Kipuka Trail, and a new Junior Ranger program to the recreation area. blm.gov

People

  • Jesse Vinson, outdoor recreation planner for the BLM RFO who spearheaded the improvements.

Sources

  1. blm.gov/visit/valley-fires-recreation-area
  2. blm.gov/blog/2026-02-18/valley-fires-recreation-area-completes-three-major-improvements
  3. geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/periodicals/nmg/1/n2/nmg_v1_n2_p27.pdf