Privately operated but long-open public attraction at the edge of El Malpais: hike a trail into the ~10,000-year-old Bandera cinder cone and descend into a lava-tube ice cave that holds perennial ice. Complements nearby free NPS El Malpais stops with a classic Zuni-Bandera volcanic-field experience.
Field facts
| Region | Cibola County, NM |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34.9916, -108.0829 |
| Volcanic field | Zuni-Bandera |
| Crater age | approx. 10,000 years |
| Access type | Private fee attraction open to the public |
| Highway | NM 53 (Trail of the Ancients) |
Nearby locations
Nearby amenities
- Rec areaChain of Craters Backcountry Byway1.1 km away
- Rec areaEl Malpais Wilderness Study Area10.5 km away
- Rec areaEl Malpais National Monument14.4 km away
Public recreation data — BLM & Recreation.gov (RIDB). Verify current access, fees, and seasonal closures before traveling.
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