West Malpais Wilderness Area

The West Malpais Wilderness is a landscape of volcanic lava flows, mostly flat, and encompasses three main ecotypes. The southeastern portion of the wilderness is a grassland with expansive views. The western area is a pinon-juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine is prevalent in the northern portion of the Wilderness. The most distinctive landform within the West Malpais Wilderness is a 6,700-acre kipuka (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground) in the north part of the wilderness called Hole-In-The-Wall. Ponderosa pines are sprinkled through the grassland of the kipuka, which is ringed by a sea of broken, jagged basalt where ponderosa pines are plentiful. The Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. The establishment of a Wilderness Area identifies an area Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.  The BLM manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are protected. Learn more about Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.