Valley of Fires Recreation, Carrizozo, New Mexico, USA

At the Valley of Fires Recreation Area, 4 miles west of Carrizozo, one can explore the rocky blackness of a 125-sq-mile lava flow that’s 160ft deep in the middle.

Valley of Fires Recreation: 6158 US-380, Carrizozo, New Mexico, USA

The U.S. Route 380 cut across the lava flow region in Carrizozo, New Mexico.

The 0.6-mile trail starts near the visitor center.

Spanning view of the lava field.

Walking down to the lava field.

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.

Returning to the parking lot.

One last look