El Malpais National Monument · New Mexico

Zuni-Acoma Trail

1.2 mi of trail, end to end · Follow Ancient Footpaths on the Zuni-Acoma Trail: 7.5 mi one way in the Service's write-up · 10 ft of descent · 6,902 ft–6,939 ft · asphalt, earth surface · trail class Fully Developed · hiking

6,912 ft 6,902 ft · 0.7 mi high 6,918 ft

Trailhead Zuni-Acoma Trailhead 6,934 ft Drive there

Follow Ancient Footpaths on the Zuni-Acoma Trail 7.5 mi one way · the Park Service's write-up

2-8 Hours · dogs allowed · season <p>This hike is best done in the cooler months of the year. There is little shade and it can be very hot in the summer months. Summer thunderstorms can occur suddenly and winter snows can make route finding challenging. </p>

two hikers traverse a rugged trail over black lava rock
Hikers cross the rugged Zuni-Acoma Trail Photo: NPS Photo

Hike a historic trail across the lava flows of El Malpais. The Zuni-Acoma trail is an ancient trail used by Puebloans, Navajo, Spanish and American explorers, and other travelers to journey between the pueblos of Zuni and Acoma. It is a very strenuous 7.5 mile one-way hike (a car shuttle is recommended) and follows a cairned route most of the way. This classic El Malpais hike is part of the 3,100 mile long Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. You can sample short parts of the Zuni-Acoma trail from either trailhead if you aren’t up for the entire hike. Due to its strenuous nature, this hike best done in the cooler months and is not recommended for pets due to the jagged rock of the lava flow.

The Zuni-Acoma trail is accessible from either Highway 117 or Highway 53 . The Highway 53 Trailhead has vault toilets and picnic tables.

Accessibility This Zuni-Acoma trail crosses several major lava flows. The trail is a route across the lava marked by cairns. The lava surface is very sharp and uneven. In many places, the route crosses deep crevasses that must be stepped across.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 10 trails in El Malpais National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.