NPS Photo What are your favorite activities when visiting national park sites? Do you like to take in a scenic drive, take a hike, or enjoy the night skies? Capulin Volcano National Monument offers all of these options for our visitors. When you arrive at the national monument, follow the Entrance Road to the Visitor Center. Go into the Visitor Center to check in and pay the entrance fee with the ranger at the desk. This is also where you can get the park map, get trail information, and fill water bottles. There are five hiking trails in the park: Crater Rim Trail, Crater Vent Trail, Boca Trail, Lava Flow Trail, and Nature Trail. Each trail offers a different geologic perspective, difficulty level, plant life, and animal habitat. The views from the trails, except for the Crater Vent Trail, look out on the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field, including extinct volcanoes; the Crater Vent Trail allows visitors an up close view of the volcanic crater. 
NPS Photo The length, elevation change, and the trail surface should be considered when choosing a hike at Capulin Volcano. The Crater Vent Trail, the Crater Rim Trail, and the Nature Trail are paved; the Boca and Lava Flow Trails are not. When hiking on trails, be aware of uneven surfaces, rocky terrain, and sharp objects. While hiking, keep an eye out for animals. The most common animals are deer, squirrels, and birds; if you are lucky, you may see a bear or a snake. If you do see an animal, enjoy the experience from a distance; do not approach and/or feed any wild animal encountered in the Park. Wind is something that visitors should be prepared for when visiting Capulin Volcano. Winter and Spring are our windiest seasons; gusts of 40-50 mph at the summit are common and gusts can reach speeds over 100 mph on occasion. 
NPS Photo Bring plenty of water, food, and clothes appropriate for the weather and the environment. In What to Wear article, we will cover clothing and other recommended gear to bring. Weather can be unpredictable in Northeastern New Mexico; having both warm and cool weather clothing is recommended. Always check the weather before hiking; storms have been known to develop quickly and unexpectedly. Inside the Visitor Center, the weather is available to you every day. Learn more about what to wear in the Park. When Volcano Road is open, the paved, 2-mile road can be driven to the Rim Parking Lot on top of Capulin Volcano; the drive takes 10-15 minutes. Learn more about Park alerts and conditions. Hiking or biking up Volcano Road is prohibited when the road is open to vehicle traffic; there is no shoulder on the road and it is unsafe for pedestrians or bicycles when vehicles are present. Hikers and bikers can use volcano road after 4:30 PM MST in the winter (Labor Day to Memorial Day), or 5:30 PM MST in the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day). The Rim Parking Lot provides access to two hiking trails: the Crater Rim Trail and the Crater Vent Trail; both trails provide different views of the volcanic rim and crater. The volcano is full of vegetation and animal life. On the summit and inside the crater, you will find Mule Dule, Rattlesnakes, Spotted Towhees, Sagebrush Lizards, and the Common Raven. 
NPS Photo The Crater Rim Trail is a 1-mile paved loop that follows the rim of the volcano; there is 300 feet of elevation gain and loss on the hike. Take advantage of the strategically placed benches and informational signs along the trail. Due to sharp lava rocks, cacti, and the presence of wild animals, pets are not allowed on this trail. The Crater Vent Trail is a .2 mile (one way), paved trail that will take visitors to the bottom of the crater. Take your time coming up as there is over 100 feet of elevation gain when returning to the parking lot. Pets are prohibited on the Crater Vent Trail. The three hiking trails at the base of the volcano are open dawn to dusk and can be accessed from the Visitor Center. These trails will take visitors through the lava flows created when Capulin erupted. The Visitor Center parking lots are open 24/7 for hiking and star gazing. However, camping at Capulin Volcano is prohibited. The Boca, Lava Flow, and Nature Trails are located on the extinct lava flows of Capulin Volcano. The Boca Trail can be accessed from the Picnic Area or the Visitor Center. It is a 2-mile loop that takes visitors into the "boca" region of the volcano; boca means mouth in Spanish. This is the area where most of the lava flows originated. Volcanic features on the trail include lava lakes, collapsed lava tubes, lava cascades, and Capulin Volcano itself. The Boca Trail is a dirt trail with rough and uneven terrain; sturdy close-toed shoes are recommended. 
NPS Photo Due to sharp lava rocks, cacti, and the presence of wild animals, dogs are prohibited on this trail. The Lava Flow Trail is a 1-mile loop through the lava flows of Capulin Volcano; it can be accessed at the end of the Oversized Vehicle Parking or the Picnic Area. Visitors will see squeeze-ups as well as views of the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field and Capulin Volcano. The Lava Flow Trail is a dirt trail. Part of the trail is on a dirt road and is easy hiking. However, parts of the trail is over lava rock and can be rough and uneven; sturdy, close-toed shoes are recommended. Pets are prohibited on the Lava Flow Trail. The Nature Trail is a short 50 yard figure-eight sidewalk with informational signs along its path explaining the plant and volcanic features within the Park. The Nature Trail is the only pet friendly and handicap accessible trail in the Park. Pets must be always on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Capulin Volcano has five wonderful hikes to meet every level of hiking. Signage and trail guides provide additional information about the volcano and the surrounding area. Trail guides are available for pickup at the Visitor Center. Learn more about hiking preparedness at Capulin Volcano. |
Last updated: March 30, 2024