El Malpais National Monument

The sharpest concern at El Malpais isn't the terrain — it's the surrounding area's violent crime rate of 795.2 incidents per 100,000 residents recorded in 2023, which runs significantly above national averages for rural counties. That figure reflects Cibola County broadly, but it means your campsite, trailhead parking, and gear left in vehicles carry real theft and personal-safety exposure, especially at remote pullouts where the monument's lava fields draw visitors far from staffed facilities.

Park in designated, visible lots rather than isolated roadside spots, and bring a steering-wheel lock or GPS tracker for your vehicle if you're leaving it unattended for long hikes. Keep valuables — including camp chairs, coolers, and fuel canisters — locked inside your RV or trunk overnight rather than staged outside. The monument also logs flash floods and thunderstorm wind, so check the National Weather Service forecast each morning and move off the open lava flats before afternoon storm buildup begins.