Crater Rim

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 7860 - 8142 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Rim
Fee: $20/vehicle
Attractions: dormant volcano

Capulin Mountain was created some 60,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption. Located near Capulin, New Mexico it is now the center piece of the Capulin Volcano National Monument. This post covers the Rim trail, as you might surmise from the name, circumnavigates the parameter of the volcano's large crater.

Crater Vent

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.26 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 7758 - 7862 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Vent
Fee: $20/vehicle
Attractions: volcano vent

The Crater Vent trail is located in the Capulin Volcano National Monument near Capulin, New Mexico. Beginning on the rim the trail descends into the volcano's crater via a paved path to the central vent where the explosive event occurred that created Capulin Mountain.

Boca Loop

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 7225 - 7458 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: Boca Loop/Picnic Area
Fee: $20/vehicle
Attractions: Dormant volcano

The Boca Loop is located in the Capulin Volcano National Monument where beginning at the Picnic Area it crosses the Volcano Road and begins a loop that runs below Capulin Mountain and along the monuments boundary as it loops back toward the trailhead. In route the trail passes several collapsed lava tubes where the volcano's lava flows originated.

Lava Flow

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 7180 - 7273 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Visitor Center
Fee: $20/vehicle
Attractions: volcano lava flow

Capulin Volcano National Monument near Capulin, New Mexico, currently has 5 developed trails of which this post is for the Lava Flow trail. Starting near the Visitor Center the trail travels a loop that leads across an area where lava had flowed down from the crater of the Capulin Volcano approximately 60,000 years ago.