Sunspot, New Mexico

[joqua]

Originally Posted by threecats407

By far the spookiest hiking I ever did was in the malpais up by Grants. The cairns blend into nothing.

We're discussing two different lava flow areas.

While the word "malpais" is a general term for un-eroded lava fields, the area adjacent to Carrizozo, NM is usually referred to as Valley of Fires Recreation Area (a BLM designation).

I believe it's more common to refer to "the malpais" as being that area near Grants, NM that is officially named El Malpais Nat. Monument.

Every major type of volcanic landform (composite volcano, shield volcano, volcanic caldera, major ash-flows, pahoehoe and aa lava, maar crater, fissure eruptions, cinder cones) occurs in New Mexico. Reference: http://nmnaturalhistory.org/volcanoe...land-volcanoes