Chain of Craters Back Country Byway

New Mexico

BLM Back Country Byway

Map

Byway Details

Designation
BLM Back Country Byway
Length
32 mi in New Mexico
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management

About Chain of Craters Back Country Byway

The Chain of Craters Back Country Byway is a 32-mile scenic drive in New Mexico, within El Malpais National Monument on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The route links a string of trails that sit right along the road, so it works well as a base for short hikes or as a way to cover several paths in one trip. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to drive it. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at El Morro National Monument show May highs around 72°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August bring the most wet days of the year. Trails start almost immediately off the road. The Cdt Hiking Trail, Paint Brush Trail and Amythest Trail are all within a third of a mile, and the Bandera North Trail is about 0.7 miles away.

Scenic byway data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: May–Oct. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 66–85°F and lows of 31–51°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the El Morro Natl Mon, NM weather station, 15 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan44° high14° low
  2. Feb47° high19° low
  3. Mar55° high23° low
  4. Apr64° high27° low
  5. May72° high34° low
  6. Jun83° high43° low
  7. Jul85° high51° low
  8. Aug82° high50° low
  9. Sep77° high43° low
  10. Oct66° high31° low
  11. Nov54° high21° low
  12. Dec44° high14° low

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Source: NPS Land Resources boundaries

Conditions

Active alerts for El Malpais National Monument as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: NPS Alerts API

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 2 miles of the route, PostGIS distance)

    Chain of Craters Back Country Byway — Scenic drive in New Mexico | Roamze