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Continental Divide Trail Coalition

Mountain Range

Grants

Experience the Spirit of Cibola

Mountain Range

The town of Grants lies in central New Mexico’s high desert, in a valley below the 11,000 foot volcanic summit of Tsoodził (Navajo), also known as Dwankwi Kyabachu Yalanne (Zuni), Kaweshtima (Acoma), Tsibina (Laguna), and Mt. Taylor (English), and the San Mateo mountains to the north. The Zuni Mountains lie to the west and the Rio San Jose flows east through Grants on its way to the Rio Grande. The most iconic part of this landscape, however, are the Malpais – vast flows of volcanic lava that form rugged badlands extending south from Grants for about 40 miles. The area has a rich cultural history, with humans having lived in the area for almost 12,000 years. This area has been and continues to be home to the Laguna, Zuni, and Acoma pueblos, as well as the Diné (Navajo) people.

Visitors to Grants will find a diverse, welcoming community, small-town friendliness, and fascinating history at every turn. While the town’s economy was built on the railroad connecting Gallup to Albuquerque, more recently, the region’s natural wonders are giving the area new life. From forest to mountaintops to volcanic badlands, there’s something for all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts in Grants. Download the Explore Grants! app on iOS or Android to get the full scoop on events, places to see, and where to eat while you’re in Grants.

Mountain Range

Getting There

The closest international airport to Grants is Albuquerque (ABQ), which is about 1.25 hours away via I-40 E. Greyhound offers daily bus trips between Albuquerque and Grants. The Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF), which offers flights from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado is about 2 hours away from Grants via I-40 E and 1-25 N.

Getting Around

Download the Explore Grants! app on Apple or Android to get the full scoop on events, places to see, and where to eat while you’re in Grants.

Rockin’ 66 Express:
Fare: .$75
Call for a ride: 505-287-9816

In addition to several daily scheduled stops, it is possible to make a reservation for a ride ahead of time and patrons can be dropped off at the Mount Taylor trailhead for an additional fee.

Ten things to do in Grants

  1. Visit El Malpais National Monument

  2. Enjoy the Native Basket Array

  3. Experience the Route 66 Neon Drive Arch

  4. Take flight at the Western New Mexico Aviation Heritage Museum

  5. Hike the Zuni Mountains

  6. Visit the Route 66 Vintage Museum

  7. Wonder at the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano

  8. Explore the New Mexico Mining Museum

  9. Discover the past at El Morro National Monument

  10. Take in the sights at Ramah Lake

Mountain Range
Featured Hike
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Tsoodził (Mt. Taylor), Cibola National Forest

  • Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

  • Length: 6.2 miles

  • Closest Town: Grants

  • Directions: From Grants, take Lobo Canyon Rd (NM 547) towards Tsoodził (Mt. Taylor). After driving for 11 miles, turn right onto the upper loop of Forest Rd 193 and continue east for 5 miles to a small parking lot on the right. You will see the Gooseberry Springs Trailhead right across the road.

  • Maps:

    USGS 7.5 quadrangles: Lobo Springs and Mount Taylor; USFS: Cibola National Forest – Forest Visitor Map; CDTC Map Set: Maps 084-085, Section NM21.

  • For More Information:

    Cibola National Forest, Mt. Taylor Ranger District: (505)-287-8833.

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Getting to the Continental Divide Trail

Zuni-Acoma Trail
South of Grants, the CDT passes through El Malpais National Monument on the Zuni-Acoma Trail. One of the ancient pathways connecting the Zuni and Acoma pueblos, this hike across the rugged lava flows of El Malpais, is marked mostly by rock cairns, many of which were constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans. Head 15 miles south of I-40 on NM 117 to find the eastern trailhead, then hike west (CDT southbound) for 7.5 miles to reach the other trailhead, which is 17 miles south of I-40 on NM 53. For day hikers, this journey is best made with a shuttle, as the rugged terrain and the nature of navigating the malpais means the hike can take 6-7 hours one way.  (National Park Service)

Tsoodzil (Mt. Taylor)
The Mount Taylor trailhead can be reached via NM-547 N and Forest Road 453 and is about 30 minutes northeast of town. From the trailhead, follow north on the CDT to wrap around the side of Tsoodzil, or see the featured hike below to reach the summit on a CDT alternate!