Walk a Volcano

Have you ever wanted to walk into or on a volcano? Well, Capulin Volcano is one of the few places in the world where you can do that. A 3-kilometer (2-mile) road spirals to the summit, ending at a parking area, where two self-guiding trails begin.

The Crater Vent Trail, 0.3 kilometers (0.2 miles) long, goes down to the bottom of the crater.

The Crater Rim Trail, 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) long, is a self-guiding path that circles all the way around the rim. The trail begins with a moderate climb, but once on the rim you will find the going fairly easy until you begin the descent to the parking lot. The views are worth the hike. You look out over the land through which wagon trains bound for Fort Union traveled the "Cimarron Cut-Off" of the Santa Fe Trail. To the west, the majestic, snowcapped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains form a mighty backdrop to the wide expanse of rangeland, broken by volcanic hills and mesas.