Valley of Fires Recreation Area

Overview

Valley of Fires recreation area is located immediately adjacent to the Malpais Lava Flow. Approximately 5,000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted and flowed 44 miles into the Tularosa Basin, filling the basin with molten rock. The resulting lava flow is four to six miles wide, 160 feet thick and covers 125 square miles. The lava flow is considered to be one of the youngest lava flows in the continental United States.

The Bureau of Land Management maintains and manages the Valley of Fires Recreation area, which is located four miles west of Carrizozo, NM, on US Highway 380. Valley of Fires offers both camping and day use. 20 of the campsites have 30 and 50 amp electrical hookups and water hookups, all sites have picnic shelters, tables, trashcans and barbeque grills. Two of the RV sites are accessible, as are the restrooms. Showers are provided in the main restroom/shower house. An RV dump station is also available. Two group shelters are accessible and available for rental. The 3/4 mile Malpais Nature Trail offers a close-up look of the lava surface.

Recreation

Valley of Fires Recreation area offers opportunities for RV Camping (both full-service and primitive camp sites), tent camping and day use. The Malpais Nature trail offers a unique experience of getting trail users out into the lava. The trail is paved and accessible. Each campsite and group shelter is equipped with picnic shelter and picnic table(s) for the public's enjoyment.

Facilities

Each camp site features picnic shelter and picnic tables, tent pads (tent camping area), pedestal grills, campfire rings (most sites) as well as a trash can. There is a shower house with flush toilets centrally located within the campground, as well as accessible vault toilets and water spigots scattered throughout the area. Showers are included in your camping fee, or can be used by non-campers for a fee of $6.The on-site dump station charge is included in camping fees * or it can be utilized by non-campers for a $30 fee. Dump Station open from 7 AM to 7PM. To dump at other times please make arrangements with Camp Host.* One dump allowed per visit. Additional dumps will be charged $30/dump. Please be able to provide proof of payment to Camp Host or other BLM staff to be permitted to utilize dump station.The bookstore and gift shop offers information on the recreation area, wildlife and other nearby activities as well as offering the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of stuffed animals, books and other recreation area keepsakes. America the Beautiful Passes are unavailable at this time.Natural Features

From a distance, Valley of Fires appears as barren rock but when you walk through the nature trail there are many varieties of flowers, cactus, trees and bushes typical of the Chihuahuan desert. Animals include bats, roadrunners, quail, cottontails, mule deer, barbary sheep, and lizards. It's also a virtual birdwatcher's paradise with great horned owls, burrowing owls, turkey vultures, hawks, gnat catchers, cactus wrens, sparrows and golden eagles.