West Malpais Wilderness
El Malpais is Spanish for "the badlands," a name that perfectly describes this region of New Mexico, where countless volcanic eruptions sent rivers of molten rock and flying cinders over what is now a...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 39,540 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1987, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.8038, -108.0995 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 23) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is West Malpais Wilderness?
39,540 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages West Malpais Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is West Malpais Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was West Malpais Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1987.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at West Malpais Wilderness?
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to West Malpais Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.804, -108.100. El Malpais National Monument is 1 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at West Malpais Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 23 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near West Malpais Wilderness?
El Malpais National Monument (1 mi) and El Morro National Monument (15 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.