Capulin Volcano National Monument - Plan Your Visit

July is the busiest month at the park, with about 15,000 visitors. The majority of visitors arrive between 10am and 4pm which sometimes causes delays of 15 - 30 minutes to tour the volcano. Plan to visit other than in July if possible or early or late in the day.

Local Partners & Information Resources

Raton Chamber and Economic Development Council

Clayton New Mexico Chamber of Commerce

Getting There

Plane
Major airlines operate in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Amarillo. Albuquerque and Denver are approximately 270 miles from the monument. Colorado Springs and Amarillo are about 190 miles.

Car
If traveling by car, the monument is located 33 miles east of Raton, NM, via US Highway 64/87 and 58 miles west of Clayton, NM, via the same highway. The park entrance is off New Mexico Highway 325, 3 miles north of the town of Capulin. Interstate 25 connects Raton with Denver, Colorado, from the north, and Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM, from the south.

Public Transportation
There is no commercial transportation available to the park.

Getting Around

The Volcano Road, which leads to the rim, is approximately two miles long. Trailers, towed vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians are prohibited because the road is narrow and has no shoulders. The road is closed after park hours. Snow, ice accumulation, and/or severe thunderstorms can also close the Volcano Road. Current road conditions are available by calling monument headquarters.

The Crater Rim Trail is one mile and the Crater Vent Trail is 0.2 miles. The Lava Flow Trail at the base of the volcano is one mile.

Strollers are not allowed on the Crater Rim and Crater Vent Trails. A child carrier backpack is available for loan at the Visitor Center. Buses must be escorted on the narrow Volcano Road. Pets are not allowed on any park trails.