シボーラ郡の天然記念物・トップ11

The road marks the boundary to the national monument area

El Calderon Cinder Cone is a volcanic feature formed from ejected volcanic materials. It is a popular place to visit for people interested in the geological history of the area and offers a nice hiking experience with fantastic views from the summit.

The lava caves were formed by ancient lava flows and are now a world of their own. These caves are often diverse ecosystems that remain secluded from the rest of the world. You can check out a bunch of different caves off the side of the trail around here, but don't get too close or try to go in.

You can look down into the heart of the ancient El Calderon Volcano. The Cinder Cone Rim Loop offers great views down into the cone from different perspectives, and you can look back towards the El Malpais Wilderness from here.

This section of trail is filled with so many different kinds of wildflowers, budding plants, and other flora. Located on an easy to travel forest service road, this is a fantastic spot for the camera.

The peak of Mount Taylor sits atop the area being the tallest mountain in Cibola National Forest and San Mateo Mountains. This dormant stratovolcano has a visitors log at the top; read through the entries of prior summiteers and have a snack before making your way back to the car. Be observant of the weather, as spring and summer can often bring afternoon storms.

This unique area is one of very few official overlooks available within El Malpais National Monument. The viewing area offers sights of Mount Taylor and canyon walls and rocks. The sandstone surrounding this area is Dakota Sandstone and offers a stable surface for standing, with there being some picnic tables and and vault toilets also near this feature.

Nature slowly returns to the landscape, a few thousand years after the black lava errupted and covered the area.