Albuquerque, NM: El Malpais Big Tubes Hike

Albuquerque, NM: El Malpais Big Tubes

nm

Distance: 2.2 miles

Be prepared, you might spend all day exploring tubes and cave entrances in this cairn-laden route in El Malpais National Monumentâ°ÃÂªs Bandara Lava Flow.

Submitted by: WGATATP4TP

Trip Description
Waypoints

MAL001

Location: 34.94438, -108.1069

Just past the signs in the toilet-equipped parking area, start following rock cairns, man-made rock piles that mark much of this route.

MAL002

Location: 34.94494, -108.1046

The sharp edges of the lava rocks can tear through shoes, clothes--and dog's feet. Wear rugged boots and leave your dogs at home if you're tackling this hike.

MAL003

Location: 34.9450597, -108.1015742

About 0.3 miles west of the trailhead, turn left at this signed junction toward Four Windows Cave.

MAL004

Location: 34.94574, -108.1013

This mapped route bears right and crosses a natural bridge at this signed junction. This 0.4-mile out-and-back leg takes you to the far side of this route's mapped loop, so if you'd like to shave time and distance from this route, continue north at this signed junction instead. You'll still pass Four Windows Cave on the cross-country section of this route.

MAL005

Location: 34.9455654, -108.0988115

Follow the edge of the collapse to the left. Look for a cairn and sign marking the easiest path to the 50-foot entrance of Four Windows Cave. Small "windows" above the cave entrance create micro climates of delicate green mosses in the damp overhang. After exploring Four Windows, backtrack from here to the trail junction Near Big Skylight's entrance.

MAL006

Location: 34.9460359, -108.1011128

After the detour to Four Windows Cave, turn right to follow the trail along the south side of this large collapse. Within 100 yards, you'll hit this spot offering relatively easy-access to the Big Skylight Cave entrance. Large blocks from the cave ceiling make this a more difficult cave to penetrate. Continue north from here 0.2 miles to Caterpillar Collapse.

MAL007

Location: 34.94871, -108.0989

There's a sign marking the boulder-filled depression of Caterpillar Collapse that formed when a tube ceiling gave way. This route follows the edge of the collapse south from this point.

MAL008

Location: 34.94738, -108.0991

Reaching the southern end of the Caterpillar Collapse, you'll begin following cairns south toward Four Windows and eventually Seven Bridges. It is easy to loose the trail, be prepared to do a little extra walking as you pick your way across the lava fields.

MAL009

Location: 34.94584, -108.0986

The southbound leg of this loop skirts Four Windows. If you already visited the cave continue heading south along the cairn-marked edge of the collapse. If you skipped the out-and-back earlier, turn right, cross the natural bridge and explore the cave before continuing.

MAL010

Location: 34.94263, -108.0976

This loop's southernmost point is the edge of a large collapse called Seven Bridges--a series of natural bridges span the trench and give the feature its name. This point is also the end of the southern branch trail, turn right and follow cairns along Seven Bridges back toward the end of this route's 1-mile loop. The trail to the parking area turns left 0.25 miles from this point.

Seven Bridges Sign

Location: 34.94267, -108.0976

The area near the sign contains 7 natural bridges.

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEW TRIP PAGES? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to Backpacker magazine

Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

PRINT THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine MySpace Twitter

Few trails exist in the rugged volcanic landscape of El Malpais National Monument. Though cairns (and occasional signs) mark the highlights of this route, pick up a brochure at the trailhead, be prepared to practice route-finding skills, and pay attention to trailside features to avoid getting lost. If you plan to venture into any of the caves, be careful to avoid damaging microclimate mosses near the cave entrances and bring 3 sources of light.

This loop begins heading west from the Big Tubes Trailhead 0.3 miles to a junction that marks the beginning of the main cave and collapse area. There are three main branches of the trail and this route heads out-and-back on the middle branch and then makes a clockwise loop connecting the north and south branches with a southbound 0.5-mile cross-country trek.

Four Windows (on the middle branch) is the most easily explored of Big Tubes’ cave entrances, but there are easy-access points to Big Skylight (near the trail junction), Catepillar Collapse (on the north branch), Seven Bridges Collapse (on the south branch) and many of the smaller trenches flanking this route.

-Mapped by Christina Frain

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEW TRIP PAGES? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to Backpacker magazine

Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

PRINT THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine MySpace Twitter

ADD A COMMENT

Related Trails

Albuquerque, NM: El Malpais Big Tubes

Be prepared, you might spend all day exploring tubes and cave entrances in this cairn-laden route in El Malpais National Monument's Bandara Lava Flow.

Albuquerque, NM: North Mystery Trail (Faulty Trail)

Hike 11.2 miles and learn some local place names on this out-and-back to a secluded meadow high in the Sandia Mountains.

Albuquerque, NM: Piedra Lisa South

Climb through the sandy canyons and shrubby ridgelines of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness on this 5-mile out-and-back outside Albuquerque.

Albuquerque, NM: Vacas Trail

Water is abundant here, compared to the arid high desert below. This 15.2-miler links fish-filled creeks with the forested hills of San Pedro Parks Wilderness.

Albuquerque: Embudito Trail to South Sandia Peak

Dayhike 5 to 15 miles through the golden hills above the city. The longer haul leads to a peak with fine views of the Sandias.

Albuquerque: Embudo-Whitewash Loop

Move from scrubby desert to forested foothills on this 9.5-mile loop just minutes from downtown. Pack ample water and a raptor ID book.

Albuquerque: Gila Loop

Lush river canyons meet high desert mesas on this 23.7-mile, 3-day loop in the Gila Wilderness.

Albuquerque: Nambe Lake

This 6-mile out-and-back adventure serves up mountain forests, a peaceful creek, and an unbeatable lunch spot on the banks of a small alpine lake.

Albuquerque: Pino Trail

This 11.2-mile trek runs through a sweet high-desert canyon, connecting stark cactus country and pretty fir highlands. Pack extra water for this dry hike.