Ranger Programs

Late Summer 2025 Programs

All programs are free and do not require reservations. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.

Labor Day Weekend

Friday, August 29 - Stargazing at Sandstone Bluffs
8:30 - 10:00 pm
Stargaze with rangers, look through a telescope, and learn about the importance of dark night skies. Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is located 19 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. Once at the parking area, look for the red lights. Wear warm layers and close-toed shoes. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, preferably one with a red light setting, and a bottle of water. You are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Saturday, August 30 - Hike with a Ranger on the east Acoma-Zuni Trail (Hwy 117)
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Explore the cultural and natural history of El Malpais along the Acoma-Zuni Trail with a ranger. The east Acoma-Zuni Trailhead is located 23 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. (Please note the Acoma-Zuni Trail has a second trailhead located on Highway 53. Please be sure you go to the east Highway 117 trailhead!) The first part of the hike is along a sandy trail before it turns into a cairn-marked route on the young lava flow. The guided portion of the hike will cover about the first 1 - 1.5 miles of the trail and return to the parking area along the same route. Plan for a 3-mile round trip hike. Bring comfortable hiking boots, weather appropriate clothing, water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat.

Sunday, August 31 - Lava Falls Hike
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Explore an incredibly young lava flow on the Lava Falls Trail with a park ranger. The Lava Falls Trailhead located 37 miles south of Grants on Highway 117. Lava Falls Trail consists of a 1-mile loop trail marked by rock cairns. The entire hike is on young lava rock. Most of the flow is smooth, but there is some stepping up and down required. Bring comfortable hiking boots, layered clothes, water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat.

Monday, September 1 - Hike with a Ranger on the west Zuni-Acoma Trail (Hwy 53)
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Explore the natural history of El Malpais along the Zuni-Acoma Trail and see the burn scar from the 2024 Encerrita Fire. The west Zuni-Acoma Trailhead is located 16 miles south of Grants on Highway 53. If coming from Grants, the turn is just past mile marker 70. (Please note the Zuni-Acoma Trail has a second trailhead located on Highway 117. Please be sure you go to the west Highway 53 trailhead!) The first part of the hike is through grassland along a dirt trail. Eventually, the trail turns into a cairn-marked route across rubbly lava flows with loose rocks. The guided portion of the hike will cover about the first 1.5 - 2 miles of the trail and return to the parking area along the same route. Plan for a 4-mile round trip hike. Bring comfortable hiking boots, weather appropriate clothing, water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat.