Big Tubes Trail is a 1.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Cubero, New Mexico that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.
kid friendly
birding
hiking
nature trips
trail running
walking
cave
forest
views
wild flowers
wildlife
rocky
no dogs
A rough but fairly level hike to and around two collapsed lava tubes. This trail takes you through an open forest containing a variety of trees such as aspen, ponderosa pine, pion and juniper. The lava tubes to which you hike are large and long (one of the longest in North America). They are unlike anything else you will see while hiking. The trail takes off from the east side of the parking lot This trail is a cairn trail. It is easy to follow, as the cairns are large and there are plenty of them.
Well-marked trail along a lava flow and into the lava tubes. Special care was taken to mark the safest route into the depths of the caves with reflective tape. Bring a headlamp and a back-up per person. Although a short hike to the Tubes, our group spent way more time than intended scrambling through and exploring the Ives. This is a great place to escape the heat. The parking lot is grated gravel and nicely maintained; pleasantly surprised to find the cleanest, least smelly outhouse I’ve ever used near the trailhead. Several picnic tables under the trees provided a nice setting for our picnic.
Definitely get the free caving permits from the ranger station and check the caves out. Take a helmet and a light!
get a permit at the ranger's office (no advance registration needed), get a map, bring headlamp and helmet (kneepad if you have them) and go explore the caves! we did all four caves in half a day: Junction (short and easy), Xenolith (a bit difficult and narrow), ice caves (super short like a joke), and big skylight. all pretty beginner friendly but fun and beautiful. I have a fwd and it's fine on the road.
Returned and hiked again. Entered one of the caves (permit required). El Malpais is a great area.
Must keep sight of the cairns, very uneven lava rock is the trail. Really not much harder than many rocky trails.
Easy trail. Nice to look at the flows without having to get off trail. Lava is hard on boots! Watch for mountain lions. There were a couple of sightings shortly before we arrived.
Awesome hike!