El Malpais National Monument has shifted into its winter cave season, but travelers can still explore the volcanic landscape above ground. In its November 2 conditions report, the National Park Service lists Sandstone Bluffs Overlook, Lava Falls and the Zuni-Acoma Trail as open, while all monument lava tube caves are closed from November 1 through April 30 to protect hibernating bats. For an RV stop near Grants, that makes the surface landscape the focus rather than an underground excursion.
Sandstone Bluffs offers a useful introduction to the contrast that defines this part of New Mexico. The park describes pale Dakota Sandstone above darker lava flows, with Mount Taylor visible to the north. Picnic tables and pit toilets are available. The overlook is open from sunrise to sunset, and the main viewing platform is accessible, although the park cautions that some wheelchairs and power scooters may find the approach difficult.
Choose the Surface Route Carefully
The seasonal closure concerns fragile wildlife habitat as well as visitor access. El Malpais describes its lava tubes as undeveloped wilderness caves without permanent lights, steps or trails. During the open season, entry requires a free permit and a group of at least two people; those arrangements do not override the winter closure. El Calderon Trail and its parking area also remain closed through November for a separate construction project, so they are not an available substitute.
Road conditions are another reason to separate a scenic stop from a backcountry drive. The November 2 report says County Road 42 toward NPS 300 and NPS 300 toward Big Tubes are wet and muddy in places, with a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle required. The Big Tubes surface trail being open does not make its access road appropriate for a conventional motorhome. Most monument access follows paved Highways 117 and 53; obtain a fresh road report from the visitor center before choosing an unpaved branch.
Arrange an Overnight Stop Separately
The monument has no developed campground, and overnight parking is prohibited at its trailheads and overlooks. A day at Sandstone Bluffs therefore needs a separate overnight plan. The park points travelers toward nearby public-land campgrounds and private facilities in Grants. Its backcountry camping provisions should not be read as permission to leave an RV overnight in an overlook parking lot.
One nearby option is the Bureau of Land Management’s Joe Skeen Campground off Highway 117. BLM lists ten free, first-come campsites open year-round, including some pull-through spaces accommodating vehicles up to 50 feet. There are vault toilets, covered picnic tables and fire grills, but no campground water. The gravel entrance is normally passable, although BLM advises waiting for water in the arroyo to subside before crossing. No reservation secures a space, so travelers needing hookups or a guaranteed overnight stop should arrange another campground before arriving. Check the official conditions pages again on departure day.
Sources: NPS conditions report, November 2, 2026; Sandstone Bluffs; NPS lava tube caving rules; NPS camping guidance; BLM El Malpais National Conservation Area and Joe Skeen Campground. Checked November 4, 2026.
Photo: Phil Stoffer/U.S. Geological Survey, July 25, 2006. Original photograph and file details. Public domain in the United States; USGS copyright policy. Original JPEG retained without additional compression.
