Why drive past a volcano when you can stop and climb that volcano? A few weeks ago, instead of cruising past Capulin Volcano, we stopped.… Read More
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Why drive past a volcano when you can stop and climb that volcano? Heck, yes!
So a few weeks ago, instead of cruising past Capulin Volcano National Monument, located in northeastern New Mexico on a lonely stretch between Austin and Denver, we stopped. Arriving at opening time (8:30 am), we spiraled up the cinder cone’s access road, parked in the small lot, and huffed up the trail to the crater rim.
Our reward? Spectacular views of the monsoon-greened plains below, knobby with dozens of other extinct volcanos all around.
The largest of these is Sierra Grande, which peaks at 2,200 feet above the plain.
By contrast, Capulin stands a mere 1,300 feet above the plain. However, its elevation over sea level is 8,182 feet. That’s as high as Vail, Colorado — nothing to sneeze at. Plus, its distinctive cinder cone shape makes it instantly recognizable as a volcano.
Born just 60,000 years ago, Capulin is a young whippersnapper among the volcanoes in the 8,000-square-mile Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. Volcanoes began erupting here 9 million years ago. At the time of Capulin’s eruption — almost yesterday by geologic time — mammoths and giant bison would have witnessed it.
Capulin and the other volcanoes in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field are extinct. But a new volcano could one day be born. For now, all is peaceful.
Capulin retains its crater and conical shape for two reasons: 1) it’s relatively young and hasn’t had time to erode, and 2) it didn’t blow its top off because, after the cinder cone built up, later lava flows occurred from the base.
You can follow a trail 105 feet into the bottom of the crater and stand on the plugged vent, now green with vegetation.
I chose the higher view — the one-mile paved loop around the crater rim.
Naturally I stopped constantly to take pictures of plants.
In mid-July, thanks to afternoon monsoon rains, everything was green.
Wildflowers were blooming too.
Beardlip penstemon
Buckwheat, maybe?
Silver foliage among the green with lava rock accents — pretty scenery
A panoramic view along the trail — really, the scenery up here is epic.
A chunky lizard calmly watched me from his sunbaking perch.
Hello there
Yucca, penstemon, grasses, and more
Penstemon flying its crimson pennants
A dainty pink wildflower
You can see the parking lot below on the edge of the mountain. The lot is small, so on busy days, rangers stop cars from ascending until someone leaves. It pays to arrive early.
To make an early arrival doable in such a desolate place, here’s my tip. If you’re driving northbound, stop overnight in Clayton, New Mexico. From there, it’s just 50 minutes to Capulin the next morning. If heading southbound, Raton is even closer — just 30 minutes away.
Pines have a toehold up here.
But plenty of bleached tree skeletons say it isn’t easy being green.
The highest point is 8,182 feet above sea level. You might feel it.
If this is wavyleaf thistle, it’s a native. Other thistles at the site are nonnative.
Invasive mullein is here too, looking pretty, of course. Staff have their work cut out for them to slow its spread.
More trees, living and dead
Volcanic rock walls hold back the slope along the trail.
Steep-sided views
Prickly pear
A pink-tinged grass
One more
A bird was singing its heart out here — see it?
Anyone know what it might be? I should have used the Merlin app to find out.
More penstemon
Groundsel
I spotted a spotted towhee near the parking lot, living his best life on a volcano. It’s definitely a place worth seeing, so don’t miss it on your next road trip through New Mexico.
For my previous visit to Capulin in 2021, click here.
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The post Capulin Volcano’s epic views on the crater rim appeared first on Digging.
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