Welcome to
Grants
Grants sits between lava fields and sandstone mesas. El Malpais National Monument preserves dramatic volcanic landscapes, the New Mexico Mining Museum lets you descend into a recreated uranium mine, and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano offer a unique geological double feature.
During the 1950s uranium boom, Grants was one of the wealthiest small towns in America. The Mining Museum tells this fascinating story, and you can ride an elevator into a simulated mine shaft. The surrounding landscape — ancient lava flows, sandstone arches, and ice-filled caves — is unlike anything else on Route 66.
exploreThings to See & Do
El Malpais National Monument
CAN'T MISSA dramatic volcanic landscape of lava flows, cinder cones, and sandstone bluffs. Hiking trails wind through ancient lava fields and past ice caves in this otherworldly terrain.
Ice Cave Bandera Volcano
CAN'T MISSA unique geological double feature — hike to the rim of a dormant volcano, then descend into a cave where ice has persisted for over 3,400 years. The ice floor stays frozen year-round.
New Mexico Mining Museum
Descend into a recreated uranium mine and learn the story of Grants' 1950s uranium boom. The only uranium mining museum in the world.
Mount Taylor
An 11,301-foot dormant volcanic peak sacred to the Navajo and Pueblo peoples — visible for hundreds of miles across the desert. Hiking, camping, and the famous Mount Taylor Quadrathlon happen here.
Tips for Visiting Grants
El Malpais trails cross sharp lava rock — wear sturdy hiking boots, not sandals.
The Ice Cave is a steep descent — bring a light jacket, it's significantly cooler underground.
Grants is the last major stop before Gallup — a good place to refuel and grab lunch.