---
id: "68990"
name: Chain of Craters Byway
distance: "33"
duration: 90 minutes to drive this route.
description: Chain of Craters Back Country Byway follows New Mexico County Road 42, showcasing the Chain of Craters and providing access to the Continental Divide Trail and to other attractions.
path: sfttEnmvrStOjI`DJfKfBjFw@|Ca@LMpCCl@P~ADpATzBvA~@`@zAIpAe@rBk@xCy@hFSbDj@dEn@lCbApIbGlA`@z@hApA~Lt@dF`AjDtA|BLvCcAna@m@nM_@tO[vBgBdGPzAhC|CbDfABVz@fAl@PLp@lAlB~CzKpB`Fv@x@pB`A~BtClFrVvAxD^dAdE`N|CzFlD`IzBtDhGtG?VlOzQ~OdIzJfALd@hBn@zNnAnEz@z@Pp@QhA_@zAKhBb@xA`@`IpAP`@zARjCvClAt@lHjDzAtClBdC~Ar@rCtBNNlErBdGPlCd@tClAzBzClDhHbHdIrG`FfDtD~@`@vB?pGVhE|BtBzBvFfHtEpJzCrBzDh@~@j@zAlBtClBzDjAzDj@lFtHLj@WbCZrAbB`@dBOpArAlCl@l@\x@o@z@IpFqDhAa@z@_ApBsDzBs@tBmAhDo@bDcAlBwBh@@bCv@~E`@vDvAvHv@fA`@v@r@lBtDt@DzE_BbFo@zEIzEeBpG}@dG[hIqA~DsBvJgJbEsBpC}@hGeC~CeC~DwBpDmElDwAGyDm@gCLiEbBm@pByChA}@vDSn@|@d@n@hFvDpBz@pAhB~GvDzFzHhGbE~CHt@r@z@bBvCdMf@dGl@`BdV`\b@x@~ApB~@b@hB?FOzA[lAk@hB[~CPpIm@rKGjA[rGQ~Ad@pAId@qAlAS|@Dp@dBt@d@~@PdEaBfC@lCr@rG?PNb@lE~AfCdDxApAHp@Sl@s@~Ao@hCWfCkAp@?hClBhHpAlB?zF_DlCyCp@WlB?lDhBfGdLh@f@lCZbFhBlBBvBfAfCzD~ApDhBpBzFjDbDhHhB`CbJ`IdJjDtL|FvLfIlBzBHbDx@pIz@rAlBx@lApAhCBxBdF~AlAl@~@z@fD~@lBz@`AzEbDbCpBhGjHTnAlAd@tBxAdAr@lKF~@O~J?rLvAtDa@zFgArBHjA`@zBxAzB?~IxHdGxDfBHzG_BzB[p@dAz@j@lEpAtDj@hFjDlH~ChEv@vIdFtBRzCfAl@QX]`Cy@bH}CvCQt@Wb@?zFlChD?bBeAdEEbMtA~IhBzCZVb@lAFbAb@l@zDz@r@x@Zl@WdAwApF?lFfAbClAv@|@fBbGl@zDlCpAz@PvTxFbF?`LyAbCb@pAmIVO?kCx@uDr@QtFaF~@_Bl@eEtAcBdCqApCShCi@zAs@p@q@JoCYkDX{AhBmDvCmKl@uFb@gPCoCt@sEhBcEzJmPfCgArCaCbAsClAyBhGiFbIqFzEsBlByAPgAbA_BzHgOdDmEP_ABaB_BcIMyDzCkNvGoKlDeLzAsHbA}Nz@mHfAeEvCaFbFgG`EeLx@iElDgLZeBl@sIZsBl@qAhDcE~AcE|CiPh@iKlBaKb@mHrCgJl@o@~CkL~@oFvBuRxD_U~BeKEiErBeHfBgMVkMfC_IpBeNpA{E~GwNdBqFbA{HhE}Q?qAi@cEv@_AfAWZe@bAsELgGzC_SfBcHpCqDnBwD|D}Kd@KCwA~A}IeA_BQwAl@gAzB_@lAsBxB_MZmHbDaWRkIt@_HHcO[gAQsBbBwEl@mETaLZsBhCoI~@oBlEiQ^{DdGc_@x@kIh@aBz@uJF{Du@kFPaCUwBMaDb@iDpBaGzCaFdLgDtAwB~@YdAmAx@{BrAgAp@OzD}DtBsDdEeFlCgA~A}BpCyC~DmBzEuGlBoBxB_AdB?~ImC~LY^[`BCtBmAhDu@bN[
organization:
  - url: https://www.blm.gov/visit/chain-craters-backcountry-byway
    name: Bureau of Land Management
websites:
  - url: https://www.thearmchairexplorer.com/new-mexico/chain-of-craters-back-country-byway.php
    name: The Armchair Explorer
attractions:
  - url: https://www.blm.gov/office/rio-puerco-field-office
    name: BLM - Rio Puerco Field Office
designations:
  - BLM Back Country Byway
  - New Mexico State Backway
states:
  - NM
ll:
  - -108.09063156121603
  - 35.00666204772578
bounds:
  - - -108.204431
    - 34.702822000000026
  - - -108.02828399999999
    - 35.00666204772578

---

Chain of Craters Back Country Byway follows New Mexico Country Road 42. The byway in its entirety passes through the El Malpais National Monument, where you can see volcanic cinder cones. As you drive, you'll see sandstone bluffs to the east as well.

The area is not only beautiful to look upon, it is exciting to explore. Many visitors enjoy the bevy of hiking trails and camping sites that offer a true close-up of the region's natural, volcanically-shaped face.