Location: Grants
Top Things to do in Grants
- 1. El Malpais National Monument
- 2. Tierra Wools
- 3. Chaco Canyon Trading Co
- 4. Land of Fire & Ice (Bandera Volcano & Ice Cave)
- 5. Western New Mexico Aviation Heritage Museum
- 6. New Mexico Mining Museum
- 7. La Ventana Natural Arch
- 8. Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center
- 9. El Malpais National Conservation Area
- 10. Mount Taylor
What to do and see in Grants, United States: The Best Places and Tips
Grants is a city in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about 78 miles (126 km) west of Albuquerque. The population was 9,182 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Cibola County.
Restaurants in Grants
1. El Malpais National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
National monument with spectacular scenery.
Reviewed By ringspa - Arlington, Virginia
The "badlands" are a confluence of volcanic lava flows and classic sandstone landscape. The hikes around the volcanic areas at Lava Falls and El Calderon are fascinating and fun. La Ventara is a sandstone arch the parks in Utah would be proud of. Well worth a visit.
2. Tierra Wools
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Come visit Tierra Wools for the unique opportunity to see the Rio Grande weaving traditions used in present day. Hidden away in tiny Los Ojos, New Mexico where growing wool and fiber arts were once a way of life. Browse our beautiful gallery and shop as well as our production sites where we hand dye and weave our yarns.
Reviewed By IT-Expert - Albany, NY
This is an incredible place when it comes to native weavings. Certainly, way out from the road and regularly travelled paths. The exterior doesn’t look like much either. However, if you do enter, you'll be treated to quite the eye candy. The exterior does not begin to even hint at the beautiful items housed in the large interior spaces.
There is a room with about a dozen huge looms and spinner wheels where they hold classes regularly, and also huge rooms with multifarious displays on weavings, fashion, prints, and other genuine New Mexico products. If this place was located near Santa Fe, or in between Abiquiu and Santa Fe, it would be a regular tourist destination. I really cannot stress enough how impressive the interior is relative to the exterior.
The owners have a lovely history. This is the real deal, and hope to visit again in the future.
3. Chaco Canyon Trading Co
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Tomas and Carol L - Pueblo, Colorado
Being from Southern Colorado, I have spent countless hours, and dollars, shopping Southwestern art, Jewelry, music and literature.
I have supported this habit by stoping at every trading post and trinket shop I have every noticed, from Texas to Montana, and Kansas to California!!!
But never have I found a more perfect place to enjoy my passion, then the Chaco Canyon Trading Co.!!!
We only stopped for fuel, but thought we might "Just Take A Peak", and we were instantly thrilled that we did!!!
First and foremost, the entire area was spotless and a feeling of warm homeyness just wrapped around us.
I must say that it had everything I could possibly want in a Trading Post!
The cases and walls just dripped with the finest of jewelries and crafts, and the soft music playing in the background was traditional, and being a Native American Flautist myself, I was instantly entranced!
We were greeted by a very pleasent and lovely young lady named Sonya, who cheerfully helped us find what we were looking for, and also made suggestions that aided us in discovering other treasures.
She was wonderful!
We will return, every chance we get, and will also let all our family and friends know, that this is indeed the place for whatever South Western Art they desire!
I am so glad we needed fuel!
Please, everyone give this place a look!!!
You will love it!!!
4. Land of Fire & Ice (Bandera Volcano & Ice Cave)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By David J - North Bonneville, Washington
I was traveling back to ABQ from another adventure and decided to drop by for a visit and so glad that I did. The owners are super friendly and informative. The geological features are interesting in themselves but the grounds are also interesting and originally the museum was a saloon due to the ice in the cave. The grounds were decorated for fall and lovely. A self guided tour through a bit of forest and lava flows and then upside the back side of the volcano. The path was gravel but had been graded and was very wide and easy to walk even with the elevation gain. Up top you have great views of the area and the many volcanos in the distance. You get a look into the crater itself but probably more interesting is the lava flow. Back down the volcano and through more lava fields to the ice cave. I spent about 3 hours and had a great morning hiking around.
5. Western New Mexico Aviation Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
MexicoA museum dedicated to the history and technology of the 1930s lighted airway corridors across the country. It includes a recreated 1929 airway beacon site and a 1950s Flight Service Station, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. All areas are ADA accessible except the small 1929 beacon's power shed. Note: see detailed street map at our website.
Reviewed By Mehoe29084 - Alta Loma, California
If you are an aviation enthusiast you will enjoy visiting this early night air mail navigation system,. this site has a beacon,generator shack,old flight service station and all its accessories. I have great respect for these early pilots and the challenges they faced with such primitive aids. This facility is found by exiting I-40 on exit 79 or 81 to Airport Road in Milan ,NM, web site www.cibolahistory.org
6. New Mexico Mining Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
MexicoVisit the Only Uranium Mining Museum in the World! Experience the atmosphere and learn about the industry. Hours: 9am to 4pm Monday-Saturday Closed Sundays and Holidays Admission Children 0-6 Free Ages 7-17 - $3.00 Ages 18-59 - $5.00 Ages 60+ - $3.00 Military/Veteran - $3.00 Guides available with advance notice. Go Underground Today!
Reviewed By Michael N - Albuquerque
An eclectic collection of New Mexico focused minerals and mining equipment. Highlight of the visit is going "underground" via an elevator and learning by hearing and seeing the steps in extracting uranium ore. New Mexico was once the major producer of the ore in the US and its impact during the cold was monumental. Short film to start then tour the mine. Knowledgeable staff can answer any questions that come up. Plan on 1-2 hours minimum.
Admission was very reasonable.
7. La Ventana Natural Arch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By Tim W - Elmhurst, Illinois
It was hot and didn't really want to get out of car anymore. So when saw the sign we where like meh. Then I caught a glimpse of it and pulled the car around.
Totally aww inspiring. And well worth the price of admission. It's free by the way.
8. Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
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Reviewed By GoVols79 - Chattanooga, Tennessee
It appears that this used to be the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center but when we visited there was a temporary sign as you drive in that shows it to be the Visitor Center for El Malpais National Monument which is part of the National Park Service. Also all of the signs on interstate 40 direct you to exit 85 for the El Malpais Visitor Center which is where this building is located. It seems like a newer building and it is very nice. There are very large windows that let you look out on the New Mexico landscape.
When visiting a national park for the first time our family typically likes to stop at the Visitor Center first to get maps, stamp our passports and get junior rangers books. The confusing aspect of this visitors center is how the park is split into an eastern and western side and you can't acces either from the Visitor Center. You have to get back onto interstate 40 and either go down to exit 81 for the eastern side of the park to see the La Ventana arch and the sandstone bluff area or down to exit 89 to access the El Calderon area in the western side. So if you aren't rushed for time and do some research before you go you can visit one side of the park before the visitors center so you don't have to backtrack.
The Rangers we talked to were very nice and helpful. There is a short film about the park that they will show on demand. Unfortunately because of time constraints we weren't able to complete the junior ranger books. The books at this park are fairly in depth and take some time to finish.
9. El Malpais National Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Oldjack - Greater Melbourne, Australia
This is a large area and correctly called El Malpais as this means Badlands in Spanish. The whole area has scattered basalt rock that goes back 100,000 plus years and well worth a visit.
10. Mount Taylor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
At an elevation of 11,300 feet, this towering mountain is comprised of thick lava flows and extrusive domes due to volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.
Reviewed By Biotourist - Garland, Texas
Mount Taylor is a sacred mountain for the Navajo and several pueblo tribes of New Mexico. It is located north of Grants, NM, which is 82 miles west of Albuquerque on I-40. Finding the trail is perhaps more difficult than the hike itself. One takes NM 547 north from the town, but no sign exists on Santa Fe Avenue (the main road through town from the Interstate). Instead, look for 1st Street. After 13 miles, the unpaved road leading to the trail head, FR 193, takes off inconspicuously to the right. (Look for a pull-off and Forest Service signs on the left.) Then one drives 5+ miles until reaching a pull-off on the right and a green trail sign, "Trail 77", on the left. The elevation at this point is about 9,300 ft. Don't be fooled by a pull-off on the right at 4 miles, with a trail heading off both to the left and to the right; this is the Continental Divide Trail. The road itself is poorly maintained, and should only be attempted in a truck, preferably with AWD or 4WD.
The hike itself is very straightforward: 3+ miles of steady climbing, at first through pine forest, then straight through an open meadow, around the side of a smaller peak through scattered blue spruce with a canyon dropping off to your right, and finally up a series of switchbacks with extensive views to the south until reaching the peak itself, at (according to the signpost) 11,301 feet elevation. This is still below tree-line, but there are great views in all directions except to the north. The elevation gain is therefore only about 2000 feet, and the climb is not particularly strenuous--unless, like me, you arrived only 36 hours earlier from a city at 500 feet elevation. A longer period of acclimation would have made the hike seem easy, so gradual is the climb. We took 5 hours round-trip, including about half an hour at the summit. We had a most enjoyable day, and felt well rewarded for our exertions by the fine views at the summit and along the way.
We made the hike in mid-summer, with the temperature on the mountain a pleasant 20 degrees below that of Albuquerque. Winds were moderate, but no doubt could could have become strong at times, and summer afternoon storms would also have been problematic. Aspens were not in great abundance, but their color would have made a fall hike in good weather a worthwhile experience.
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