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Capulin Volcano National Monumentcolor photograph of eroded cinder cone Rabbit Ear Mountain
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Capulin Volcano National Monument
forest
 
Color photograph of forested slope of Capulin Volcano.
NPS photo
Pinyon/Juniper forest on slope of volcano.
The forested slopes of Capulin Volcano are covered in pinyon pine/juniper woodland. This short-statured forest is dominated by pinyon pine, juniper, sumac, wavyleaf oak, Gambel’s oak, and mountain mahogany.
 
 
Color photograph of three Ponderosa Pines on ridge silhouetted against sky.
NPS photo
Ponderosa Pines.
Some ponderosa pines are found in the monument. These large pines usually occur in mountains in pure stands. They are more solitary and mixed through the other woodlands in the lower elevations of Capulin Volcano.
 
Color photograph of grove of Aspen trees showing orange-yellow fall color.
NPS photo
Aspen in fall.
A grove of several Aspen trees lights up the base of the volcano each fall as the leaves turn a yellowish orange.
 
Vegetation mapping is an ongoing project in the monument. This checklist was done in 2002 by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
 
 color photograph of flowers and grasses in prairie
Flowers and grasses
Short and mixed grass prairie species are found at the monument.
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Color photograph of yellow flower.
Salsify
Exotic species outcompete natives for scarce resources.
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color photograph of prairie with woods in foreground  

Did You Know?
The high plains of northeastern New Mexico, including Capulin Volcano, are where shortgrass prairie and mountain forest meet.

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Last Updated: April 11, 2008 at 16:03 EST