Capulin Volcano National Monument
Union County New Mexico
Photo by Mark Nohl
Capulin Volcano National Monument protects and preserves a perfectly symmetrical volcanic crater, an outstanding example of an extinct cinder cone, one of three types of volcanoes in this central portion of the Raton/Clayton volcanic field. A visitor center has exhibits, bookstore and a video presentation located near the entrance. A two-mi. scenic road winds to the top. Trails are located at the Visitor Center, along crater rim, and into the 415' deep crater. Open 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, daily in the winter and 7:30 AM-6:30 PM daily during the summer. Admission fee is $4 per vehicle.
The volcano is part of the Raton/Clayton Volcanic Field (Central). This dormant 7,000-year-old volcanic crater, typical of the many seen by SFT travelers in this region, is skirted by not only a military road to Ft. Union, but also by the Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail of 1867-76. The volcano is visible also from lower Railroad Canyon, north of Raton, on the Mountain Route of the SFT.
- View the Google Map for this site (lat-long decimal degrees, NAD27) 36.77855 -103.97963
- Supt., Capulin Volcano Natl. Monument
- PO Box 40
- Capulin, NM
- 505-278-2201
- Fax: 505-278-2211
- www.nps.gov/cavo
