Chain of Craters Back Country Byway | New Mexico
The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway highlights a journey through a dramatic and remote volcanic landscape in northwestern New Mexico, offering a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural history, and adventure. The road’s backcountry designation ensures a sense of solitude and connection to nature, making it an ideal route for those seeking an off-the-grid adventure.
Starting near NM Highway 53 and ending near NM Highway 117, the 33-mile unpaved road winds through the El Malpais National Conservation Area, an ancient volcanic field rich with geological formations, such as cinder cones, lava flows, and expansive desert vistas. Travelers on this byway can explore the history of the region, including ancestral Native American sites and homesteads, while enjoying the rugged beauty of the high desert. The route follows the Continental Divide and provides access to pristine wilderness areas. The Chain of Craters serves as a testament to the region’s volcanic past, with over 30 cinder cones dotting the landscape, remnants of eruptions that shaped the area millions of years ago. Along the way, visitors might encounter hikers on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which intersects with the byway, or pause to observe wildlife and native vegetation unique to the desert environment.
Byway Details
The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway winds through one of New Mexico's most striking volcanic landscapes, part of the El Malpais National Conservation Area in the northwestern part of the state. The unpaved, rocky route passes more than 30 cinder cones and sweeping lava flows, some dating back nearly 800,000 years, offering travelers a rare, close-up look at a rift zone shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of geologic activity. Sandstone bluffs, lava tubes, and caves add to the terrain's variety, creating a landscape as scientifically rich as it is visually dramatic.
Beyond its geology, the byway carries deep cultural and historical significance. The route cuts through the West Malpais Wilderness, where petroglyphs left by the area's indigenous peoples tell the story of life on this high desert landscape long before European arrival. Wildlife thrives here too, particularly in the region's lava tubes and caves, which shelter large bat populations and other hibernating species, drawing visitors for dusk viewing during the summer months.
For those seeking a backcountry adventure, the byway connects to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and lies near the ancient Acoma-Zuni Trail, extending opportunities for long-distance hiking and exploration. The "Hole in the Wall" trail offers a distinct transition from lava fields to open prairie, while the surrounding wilderness moves through desert grassland, tinajas, ponderosa pine forest, and pinyon-juniper woodland. Together, these features make Chain of Craters a route where geology, culture, and ecology intersect, rewarding visitors with both scenic beauty and a tangible connection to the region's deep past.
Attractions & Features
- Ancient lava fields
- Approximately 800,000 year old volcanic rift
- Sandstone bluffs
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
- This area does not have any ADA-compliant facilities or interpretive displays. The most accessible way to enjoy the area is to travel by vehicle.
- A high-clearance vehicle, such as a truck or a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended as this road is rugged in several areas, features blind curves and hills, and can be difficult to navigate when wet. Service is also scarce.
- To hike the area, one needs to be able to walk across uneven, silty ground that travels up and downhill for several miles.
Know Before You Go
Scenic driving, hiking, camping, picnicking, watchable wildlife. Because the Chain of Craters Byway is remote, outstanding recreational opportunities abound. Visit the BLM El Malpais NCA recreation website for more information.
Fees
- None.
Facilities
- There is no potable water or restroom along this scenic byway.
Nearby Amenities
- The nearest area to get food, gas, and water is in Grants, ~27 miles away by heading northeast on County Rd 42 and then traveling on NM-53 E.
Seasons/Hours
- Open year-round.
- During or after inclement weather, the road make become impassable.
Special Rules
- The road is an annually maintained dirt road. A high-clearance vehicle, such as a truck or a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Use particular caution when the road is wet.
- Dispersed camping is allowed, BUT you must park your vehicle alongside the road and carry your camping gear to your chosen site.
- Firewood collection or bringing wood from outside the wilderness is prohibited.
- No fireworks, discharge or use of firearms, or any other weapons.
- Pets must be on a 6ft leash.
- Please make sure to carry out any litter.
Brochures Maps, and Publications
Wildlife in Area
- Pronghorn
- Elk
- Swanson’s hawks
- Red-tailed hawks
- Rock squirrels
Points of Interest
Flickr Album
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Contact Us
Activities
Addresses
Directions
The Chain of Craters Back Country Byway is located in Cibola County, near Grants, NM. From Interstate I-40, access may be gained from NM 117 or NM 53.
To join the byway from the south entrance, turn south onto NM 117 from I-40, approximately 5 miles east of Grants. County Road 42 begins approximately 35 miles from the NM 117 turnoff. To join the byway from the north end, travel I-40 past Grants and take the San Rafael exit south. Travel on NM 53 approximately 25 miles. County Road 42 begins on the south side of NM 53.
Please be aware that the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway requires high-clearance vehicles. The road is not paved. Although dirt and gravel surfaced, it is routinely graded by the county. Grades, curves, and road surfaces can be negotiated with a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle without undue difficulty. During rain and snow seasons, the road is likely to be impassable.
Fees
None