Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Area - Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument

We did a short hike on the lava flow on a warm and windy winter afternoon. Parking a little south of Aden Crater, we walked on the black basalt for a mile and a half or so, encountering a couple of large collapse features as we went. It was the first time I'd really been on the main part of the flow in many, many years. The sparse grasses, chollas, desert shrubs and the occasional miraculous winter wildflowers that grew in the red dust were all there was to conceal the rock. The destination was  small hole in the flow known as Khulo Cavern. Some of the group descended to the bottom with ropes. A  stranded, small rattlesnake was encountered there and was subsequently evacuated. The photographer of the group and a few others were going to stay past sunset to get photos of the stars from inside the "cavern." We  didn't.
 I would recommend to first time visitors to get well acquainted to the landmarks and their general directions, and research the area well with maps and Google Earth because it is difficult place to keep your bearings and judge distances.