New Mexico

The El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1987 in western New Mexico to protect nationally-significant geological, cultural and natural resources surrounding the the Zuni-Bandera volcanic fields. El Malpais translates to "the badlands" in Spanish.

The NCA is located in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Blanca Mountains. At over 31 miles long, the Cave is the second longest in New Mexico, the 14th longest in the U.S., and the 62th longest in the world.

Located on the Pajarito Plateau, the Monument is rich in pumice, ash, and tuff deposits. The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of explosive volcanic eruptions that occurred 6-7 million years ago.

In the ruggedly beautiful Ri­o Grande Mesilla Valley, five iconic mountain ranges rise above Chihuahuan Desert grasslands: the Robledo, Sierra de las Uvas, Doa Ana, Organ, and Potrillo Mountains.

The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument includes a major deposit of Paleozoic Era fossilized footprint mega trackways. The trackways contain footprints of numerous amphibians, reptiles and insects, as well as petrified wood dating back 280 million years.

Río Grande del Norte National Monument, located near Taos, New Mexico, includes approximately 242,500 acres comprised of rugged, wide open plains, volcanic cones and steep canyons cut by hidden rivers. Evidence of ancient use is found throughout the area in the form of Native American petroglyphs, prehistoric dwelling sites, and many other types of archaeological sites. The Monument provides year-round protection for many of New Mexico's iconic species like the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, cougar, black bear, bald eagle, and the native Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.