Volcanoes Day Use Area

A line of cinder cones at the Volcanoes Day Use Area.

NPS Photo/Daniel Leifheit

The Volcanoes Day Use Area is a great area to get out a walk around three of the monument's cider cone volcanoes. It also provides great views of the city of Albuquerque to the east.

Parking lot hours are 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily. This location may close early due to severe weather.This area is officially open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset. Before- or after-hours access is permitted by parking outside of the gated parking lot.

There are no petroglyphs located here.

Be aware that no water is available so be sure to bring plenty of your own.

No bicycles are allowed on any section of the trails. 

Pets on a 6 ft. leash are allowed and must be controlled at all times. Pick up and carry out all pet waste. Do not leave the pet waste on the side of the trails.

Lock vehicles and set alarms. Do not leave anything visible inside your car.

The trails highlighted below take you as close as possible to the volcanic cones without causing further resource damage. Native peoples believe that hiking to the top of the volcanic cones desecrates this sacred landscape. Please respect local cultural beliefs and also help protect these unique volcanoes by not hiking to their peaks.
 

Volcanoes Trail

Distance: About 3 1/2 miles round trip loop from the parking lot to the JA Volcano and around the Vulcan Volcano back to parking lot.
Difficulty: easy to moderate

The entire trail starts at the parking lot and goes past the JA Volcano to the scenic overlook, up to the Vulcan Volcano and back to the parking lot, with sweeping views of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley throughout.

JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook

Distance: 1 mile round trip from parking lot to scenic overlook and back.
Difficulty: easy

This sub-section of the trail departs from the parking lot and heads east to a scenic view of the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque, and the Sandia Mountains. You will have to turn around the way you came back to the parking lot to complete it. This trail has two shaded rest areas with benches.

Vulcan Volcano Loop

Distance: 2 miles from north side of parking lot around Vulcan Volcano and back.
Difficulty: moderate

This sub-section of the the trail can be found by going to the northside of the main parking lot near the gate. The trail along the eastern base of Vulcan is difficult to find but do not give up. A gradual incline up the east side of Vulcan leads to a level, mini-volcanic valley on Vulcan’s north side. Continue on trail and go left (south) when you approach the ‘Y’ on the northwest side of Vulcan. At next ‘Y’ go left again for an up-close look at this well preserved cinder cone. Follow trail down, continuing south on old road which leads back to the parking lot.

 

Details

Duration

1-4 Hours

Volcanoes Trail
Distance: About 3 1/2 miles round trip.

JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook
Distance: 1 mile round trip.

Vulcan Volcano Loop
Distance: 2 miles


 

Activity

Front-Country Hiking

Volcanoes Trail

Distance: About 3 1/2 miles round trip loop from the parking lot to the JA Volcano and around the Vulcan Volcano back to parking lot.
Difficulty: easy to moderate

The entire trail starts at the parking lot and goes past the JA Volcano to the scenic overlook, up to the Vulcan Volcano and back to the parking lot, with sweeping views of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley throughout.

JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook

Distance: 1 mile round trip from parking lot to scenic overlook and back.
Difficulty: easy

This sub-section of the trail departs from the parking lot and heads east to a scenic view of the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque, and the Sandia Mountains. You will have to turn around the way you came back to the parking lot to complete it. This trail has two shaded rest areas with benches.

Vulcan Volcano Loop

Distance: 2 miles from north side of parking lot around Vulcan Volcano and back.
Difficulty: moderate

This sub-section of the the trail can be found by going to the northside of the main parking lot near the gate. The trail along the eastern base of Vulcan is difficult to find but do not give up. A gradual incline up the east side of Vulcan leads to a level, mini-volcanic valley on Vulcan’s north side. Continue on trail and go left (south) when you approach the ‘Y’ on the northwest side of Vulcan. At next ‘Y’ go left again for an up-close look at this well preserved cinder cone. Follow trail down, continuing south on old road which leads back to the parking lot.

Pets Allowed

Yes

Pets on a 6 ft. leash are allowed and must be controlled at all times. Pick up and carry out all pet waste. Do not leave the pet waste on the side of the trails.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Volcanoes Day Use Area

Driving distance to the Volcanoes Day Use Area from the visitor center is 12.5 miles and takes around 20 minutes.

Exit visitor center parking lot and turn right onto Unser Blvd.
Merge onto I-40 West to the Atrisco Vista exit #149.
Turn right onto Atrisco Vista and drive 4.8 miles north until you see the sign and parking lot on your right.

GPS: Latitude 35.130817 Longitude: -106.780826

 

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Parking lot hours are 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily. This location may close early due to severe weather.This area is officially open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset. Before- or after-hours access is permitted by parking outside of the gated parking lot.

Accessibility Information

Not stroller nor wheelchair accessible.

Service animals are allowed.

Natural earth surface with inclines up volcanic rock in places.