NPS Photo What is something you can expect when you visit a national park? Will there be a lot of people? Will there be traffic on the roads? What are the trail conditions? What wildlife is in the national park? In this article, we are going to cover Park passes/entrance fees, an overcrowded Park in the summer, wildlife, big vehicles and trailers, pets, hiking trails, dark sky viewing and astronomy, festivals, ranger led programs, and weather (inclement and seasonal weather). To begin your adventure at Capulin Volcano National Monument, make sure to check the Park website for Park alerts and updates. There might be Park closures or road closures that can affect your plan. Be up to date on the alerts and conditions in the Park. Park entrance fees are required to visit Capulin Volcano National Monument year-round. You must park and check in at the Visitor Center before your visit. Inside the Visitor Center, you can either show your America the Beautiful Lands Pass to the ranger or buy an America the Beautiful Pass, or puchase a seven day pass for Capulin Volcano National Monument. Vehicles 26 feet and longer and vehicles with trailers are prohibited from driving Volcano Road. Volcano Road is narrow and does not have enough space for these vehicles. If you are traveling in a vehicle that is less than 26 feet and is pulling a trailer, you must disconnect and drop the trail in the oversized vehicle parking lot beyond the Visitor Center. You are not allowed to drive the trailer up the volcano. 
NPS Photo Park passes that will work are the America the Beautiful Lands Pass series—Annual, Military, Veteran, Access, 4th Grade, Senior Lifetime, and Senior Annual. Learn more about Park fees and passes at Capulin Volcano. Our season usually kicks off in May and ends in September. If you come during these months, you should expect thousands of people in the Park and on the hiking trails. There will be congestion at the parking areas and heavy traffic. To avoid the crowds, consider beginning your day at 8 am before the day gets busy. Consider other times of the year to avoid the heavy traffic. 
NPS Photo Visitors can enjoy the dark skies and view billions of stars at our International Dark Sky Park. You won’t find many people out, so you can have a quiet viewing area. Always bring warm layers if you’re planning to see the dark skies year-round. It can be windy and cold at night. Make sure to bring proper layers. The Visitor Center’s oversized vehicle parking is the best place to view the dark skies. The road to the top of the volcano is closed at night. It’s best to view the night skies from the base of the volcano because you won’t compete with light pollution or the rim blocking your view. You cannot camp in the Park but, you may stay to view the night sky from the oversized vehicle parking beyond the Visitor Center at the base of the volcano. You may experience deer running around or the occasional mountain lion. Learn more about astronomy and dark sky viewing at Capulin Volcano. 
NPS Photo When people think of a National Park and wildlife sighting, they might think of their experience at Yosemite or Yellowstone. But, here at Capulin Volcano National Monument the common animals you’ll see are deer, birds, squirrels, lizards, and insects and, if you get lucky, mountain lion, black bear, and bobcats. Black bears are not common but, they can show themselves throughout the year.There are not enough resources and too many people here for them to be interested. There have been sightings of black bear and mountain lion but, again, not a common mammal you’ll run into. Likely, you will see birds circling above and squirrels running up trees. In the summer, there are a lot of bugs that will cover your car. With the presences of mountain lion and black bear, we ask that you keep your pet in your vehicle and not on the hiking trails. Lava rock is sharp and can damage their paws as well. Learn more about our wildlife in the Park. Even though the roadways will be busy, you can still find some peace and quiet when you adventure out on the hiking trails. The Rim Trail and Crater Vent Trail can be busy in the summer and there are limited parking spots available. Limited parking can mean a waitlist to drive up. What can you expect for our hiking trails? Capulin Volcano is an extinct cinder cone volcano. Its rock type varies from Dakota sandstone to Capulin Basalt but, the most common rock is Capulin Basalt; the crimson color comes from high levels of iron. There are five major hikes in Capulin Volcano. Please stay on all trails when hiking. Please leave whatever you find in the Park, except for trash. The five trails are listed below: The Crater Rim Trail is a paved, 1 mile loop around the rim of the volcano. It is moderately difficult due to steep climbs and descents. Informational waysides provide visitors information about the surrounding features in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. No pets.
The Crater Vent Trail is a 0.2 mile (one-way) trail leading to the bottom of the Capulin's crater. This trail is paved and has an elevation change of 100 feet. No pets.
The Lava Flow Trail at the base of the volcano is an unimproved, 1 mile loop that crosses one of the volcano's lava flows while providing great views of the surrounding volcanic topography. No pets.
The Boca Trail is an unimproved, 2 mile strenuous loop through the Boca area. This is the vent area at the base from most of the volcano's lava flows originated. The trail provides close up views of numerous geologic features. No pets.
The Nature Trail is adjacent to the visitor center. It is a figure eight sidewalk trail that is handicap accessible. Stop along the way at descriptors discussing plant life, geology, and wildlife in this short walk around a volcanic "squeeze up." Pet Friendly!
NPS Photo Study the Park map and figure out the trail you would like to go on. Learn more about choosing your hike and hiking at Capulin Volcano. Ranger led programs run when staffing is available and the weather cooperates. Available programs vary year to year. Programs will be scheduled at set times including our evening hikes and astronomy programs. All programs are weather and staffing dependent. If there is not enough staffing or the weather is bad, the scheduled programs will be canceled. Look through our calendar for Park programs and events. Another fun activity to do with kids is the junior ranger program. The junior ranger activity booklet is at the Ranger Desk in Visitor Center during operating hours. It is best to work on the Junior Ranger Book in the park as there are activities to be completed when visiting Capulin Volcano. Throughout the summer months, the Park will host Park festivals such as Pollinator Fest, Volcano Fest, and Dark Sky Fest. The dates for these festivals are on the Park’s website, Facebook and Instagram. There will be fliers and posters around the park announcing the festivals. The festivals are weather and staffing dependent. 
NPS Photo The weather in the Park is unpredictable. There can be seasonal and inclement weather. Temperatures vary season to season, with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s and winter temperatures plummeting to the teens and twenties. Summer thunderstorms are common, as are high winds and snow in the winter. Temperature swings are common; plan to pack for all weather possibilities. Plan for any weather at any time when you visit Capulin Volcano. The forecast can get you into the ballpark but, inclement weather, including thunderstorms, can develop quickly. You want to be prepared for any weather at any time. Learn more about what to wear at Capulin Volcano. When it rains, the basalt rock will become wet and slippery. Please watch your step. If you see lightning or hear thunder, get in your vehicle as quickly and safely as possible. Lightning strikes on the volcano are common; the only safe place during a thunderstorm is inside. To recap, Capulin Volcano National Monument is crowded during the summer months, usually between May and September. You can expect there to be a waitlist to go to the top of the volcano. A Park entrance pass is purchased at the Visitor Center. The common wildlife to see are deer, squirrels, birds, and lizards. You may also see mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, and snakes. Volcano Road is narrow and large vehicles will not fit; vehicles longer than 26 feet and/or pulling a trailer must park in oversized vehicle parking at the base of the volcano near the Visitor Center. The only pet friendly trail is the Nature Trail next to the Visitor Center, and pets must be on a six foot leash at all times. There are roughly 5 miles of hiking trails to explore and walk on. These trails are covered in lava rock which are sharp and can easily damage pet’s paws. Ranger led programs are based on staff availability and weather. Lastly, please check the local weather forecast on the day you are visiting as the weather can change quickly. You can expect wind year-round. Summers are hot, dry, windy, and there is always a chance for thunderstorms. Winters are dry, cold, and windy; freezing fog, snow, and ice are common occurrences. Take a look at our packing list for Capulin Volcano. Learn more about hiking preparedness at Capulin Volcano National Monument. |
Last updated: April 27, 2024