TBT: Capulin Volcano National Monument

Capulin Volcano National Monument was established in 1916 as Capulin Mountain National Monument. The monument was renamed in 1987 and consists of 1.2 square miles of land in northeastern New Mexico. The cinder cone volcano formed from a series of eruptions that ended about 60,000 years ago.

To reach the monument from Interstate 25 in Raton, take exit 451 and head east on US 87 for 27.4 miles before turning north on NM 325. Drive north on NM 325 for 2.8 miles to the monument entrance on the right.

There are four trails in the park. The two-mile, strenuous Boca Trail is accessible from the picnic area. The one-mile Lava Flow Trail loop is accessible from both the picnic area and the visitor center. Two additional trails are located at the end of the park road near the rim of the volcano. The self-described Crater Rim Trail is a one-mile paved trail around the rim of the caldera. The 0.2 mile one-way Crater Vent Trail descends from the parking area to the bottom of the crater. The visitor center was closed during our visit.

We hiked both the Crater Rim Trail and the Crater Vent Trail during our short visit in August 2011. The parking area is at an elevation of 7877 feet and the Rim Trail climbs to 8182 feet.

The Capulin caldera from the parking area at the end of the road

Robinson Peak (8040' 3.4 miles)

Horseshoe Crater with Palo Blanco Mountain (8383' 15 miles) in the distance

Blonde or cinnamon black bears are common in the area

Old lava flows

Laughlin Peak (8818' 16 miles)

Exposed lava beside the trail

Pressure ridges

More lava rock

Crater Vent Trail and parking area

Sierra Grande (8720' 7.3 miles) shield volcano

Crater Vent Trail and parking area

Prickly pear

Rain in the desert

Enough water collects in the caldera for trees to grow

Caldera from the parking area

Crater Vent Trail passes through lava bed

View from inside the caldera

Rain moving closer is our signal to leave

As of January 2, 2018, a fee of $15 per vehicle is assessed to enter Capulin Volcano National Monument. A reduced fee of $10 is charged for motorcycles. A park specific annual pass is available for $30. In addition, the inter-agency America the Beautiful passes are also honored. The annual America the Beautiful pass is still $80 and covers entrance fees to all national parks and many other public areas throughout the country.

The monument website is https://www.nps.gov/cavo.