How to get out Grants
La Ventana arch in El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument is a rugged national park that offers hiking and a chance to explore lava flows, lava-tube caves, volcanoes, the famous La Ventana Arch, and many cliffs and canyons. The famous Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave attraction is also within the park, offering two trails that lead into the Ice Cave and into the crater of Bandera Volcano.
Just beyond El Malpais is the El Morro National Monument , which features historic inscriptions and petroglyphs along with a nice 2 mile hike over the mesa past ancient ruins.
The area is surrounded by the Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District. This district includes the Zuni Mountains to the southwest of Grants, and Mount Taylor and the San Mateo Mountains to the northeast of Grants. Gooseberry Springs Trail provides hikers with access to the summit of Mount Taylor, the region's highest peak at 11,301 feet. Many forest roads allow mountain bikers, jeepers, and hikers to easily access the forest lands.
The Navajo Nation covers much of northwestern New Mexico and offers various points of interest. If interested in Navajo rugs, be sure to check out a rug auction at the tiny town of Crownpoint, an hour north of Grants. Auctions are held on Friday nights every month or two, "usually ... but not always" on the third Friday of the month (see site below for schedule), and are both an opportunity to acquire some quality folk art at excellent prices and a fascinating cultural study.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is 90 miles north of town; Grants is a good place to find lodging if you're bound for Chaco, there being no lodging in the park other than a very basic campground.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Grants
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