El Malpais National Monument is widely known for lava fields of which some have relatively recent origins. The lava fields have much to offer including the well cairned Zuni-Acoma Trail and accessible lava tubes (cuidado!). Although the lava fields are largely devoid of significant climbing opportunities, there is climbing available in the soft Zuni-sandstone bluffs on the east side of the monument.
The two-pitch Crack of Heraclitus (5.11c/d or 5.10 A1) awaits an easy ~13 mile drive down Highway 117 from Interstate 40. Also, according to Dennis Jackson's Rock Climbing New Mexico guide (2006), the bluffs further south at "The Narrows" contain several easier but quality crack routes for the adventurous soul. The location of "The Narrows" on Highway 117 is often shown on detail maps such as the one currently available via the National Park Service's web page for El Malpais.
Getting There
The monument lies south of Gallup and Interstate 40 roughly between Highway 53 on the west and Highway 117 on the east.
The New Mexico Climber, a newsletter produced by Mark Dalen between at least 1976-79, shows many routes in the Malpais (at least 20). The climbs are on the cliffs 12 miles south of I-40 for several miles.
Early FAs were by Dave Baltz, Dave Dahrling, Paul Horak, Mark Dalen, Charles Ware, Steven Cheney, Davey Hammack, Rick Maleski and Merle Wheeler.
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