News Release

Phased Reopening Plan 2020

Date: May 29, 2020

For Immediate Release
May 29, 2020
Contact: Ernie Price, 505-290-5007, [e-mail]

National Park Service Announces Three Phase Reopening Plan for
El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments

Grants, NM – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, El Malpais National Monument is increasing recreational access to all of its trails and to Sandstone Bluffs Overlook on June 1. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a three phased approach to increase access to both national monuments.

Phase 1 - Beginning June 1, El Malpais National Monument will reopen access to all trailheads, including restrooms located along Highways 53: El Calderon, Zuni-Acoma Trail, and the Big Tubes Area (though caves remain closed) and along Highway 117: Acoma-Zuni Trail, Lava Falls, and the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook.

The El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, located just south of Interstate 40, Exit 85, will remain closed temporarily due to a construction project there to replace the concrete plaza in front of the building. By mid-June, when this work is complete, the parking area and restrooms will reopen. The main interior of the Visitor Center will remain closed until Phase 3 is implemented.
 
Phase 2 - Reopening the trails and campground at El Morro National Monument initially on a five day per week schedule, Wednesday through Sunday, the park will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The target date for this phase is mid-June. The interior of the Visitor Center will remain closed, but restrooms will be open.

Phase 3 – Reopening of both Visitor Centers at El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments. Though no date can be determined for this phase at this time, a date in July is anticipated. When Visitor Centers reopen, there will be capacity limits enforced to allow for proper social distancing.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. The operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.  

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders issued by the New Mexico Department of Health, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors can adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.  

While we are anxious for normal operations to resume, in the meantime, virtual visits are still an option. Both parks have recently expanded photo galleries on their websites, continue to offer new content about the parks including ranger videos on Facebook, and El Malpais National Monument is also now on Instagram. Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our websites, www.nps.gov/elma and www.nps.gov/elmo and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.


-NPS-