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Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway
Nat'l Recreation Area

Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway

United States

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Managed by Bureau of Land Management

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Managing agency

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We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this park using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: May 20, 2026. Spot an error in our data?

About

Imported description
The Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway is a 33-mile backcountry byway located in El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and National Monument in northwestern New Mexico. The byway, which is County Road 42, passes almost exclusively through public lands. County Road 42 forms the western boundary of the West Malpais Wilderness and connects NM 53 and NM 117. For information regarding what you will see or the public lands you will have access to along the byway, see BLM's El Malpais NCA recreation website.

Source: recreation.gov

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Hunting in this park

This park overlaps hunting units

During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the New Mexico hunting page

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