The Carrizozo Lava Flow WSA is located in central New Mexico. This lava flow is believed to be one of the most recent lava flows in the continental United States, dating back 1,500 years. This is a flat plain but a rugged landscape nonetheless. The surface of the lava is extremely rough and broken by fractures, collapsed lava tubes, and pressure ridges. Sparse desert shrubs and grasses grow in the cracks providing an interesting contrast of green against the black lava. The area supports a remarkably diverse ecosystem, including melanistic species with fur or skin darker than is typical for their species since they live mostly on the dark lava. The landscape is difficult to traverse; consequently, the opportunity to find solitude is limitless.

Explore Nearby

• Villanueva State Park — State Park in New Mexico
• Ute Lake State Park — State Park in New Mexico
• Santa Fe National Forest — National Forest in New Mexico
• Lincoln National Forest — National Forest in New Mexico
• Navajo Nation Transportation Development Committee — Scenic Byway in New Mexico