Place · Northeast NM
Capulin Volcano National Monument
An extinct cinder cone you can drive to the rim of, with a paved crater-rim trail and sweeping views across the volcanic grasslands of northeastern New Mexico.
National Monument
Tiny Capulin, New Mexico (pop. 61, elev. 6,824 ft) sits in the high-desert northeast beside the dramatic cinder cone of Capulin Volcano National Monument, a gateway to dark skies, volcanic trails, and stargazing events.
Capulin is a small community in Union County named for the nearby volcano by Hispanic settlers after the Civil War. The town of 61 residents lies just south of Capulin Volcano National Monument, part of the vast Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field.
Capulin Volcano National Monument offers rim drives, hiking trails, and panoramic views across four states. Visitors enjoy the monument's Gold-Tier dark skies through ranger-led star parties and astronomy programs. Our database events such as Dark Sky Night, Sunset hike, Volcano Fest!, Astronomy Festival, and Moonlight Hike take place here throughout the year.
No food service operates inside the monument, though the visitor center offers limited snacks and water refill. The nearest restaurant is the Sierra Grande Restaurant in nearby Des Moines, open year-round for meals; additional options lie in Raton and Clayton.
Capulin Volcano National Monument sits on State Highway 325, three miles north of U.S. Highway 64/87. The park lies roughly 30 miles east of Raton and 40 miles west of Clayton.
No lodging or camping is available inside Capulin Volcano National Monument. Developed campgrounds exist in the surrounding area, while motels and hotels can be found in the nearby towns of Raton and Clayton.
This corner of New Mexico reflects the state's high-desert ranching and volcanic heritage. Respect all posted rules at the national monument, especially during night-sky events.
Visitor Center open daily 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Volcano Road vehicle access 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; park open dawn to dusk except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
No camping or lodging inside the monument; options exist in nearby Raton and Clayton.
Yes, the monument is a Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Association park with public star parties and 24-hour night-sky viewing areas.
Limited snacks at the visitor center; the closest full restaurant is Sierra Grande in Des Moines, with more choices in Raton and Clayton.
Lodging is shown by Stay22, a travel partner.
Some lodging and travel links are affiliate links provided by our partner Stay22. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects our editorial or cultural guidance. See our Privacy Policy.
An extinct cinder cone you can drive to the rim of, with a paved crater-rim trail and sweeping views across the volcanic grasslands of northeastern New Mexico.
Game Management Unit 57 covers the high plains, mesas, and grassland of Colfax County in the upper Canadian River region of northeastern New Mexico. Huntable species include pronghorn, elk, mule deer, black bear, cougar, and Merriam's turkey under zone- and species-specific seasons; note that NMDGF has capped private-land pronghorn licenses in GMU 57. Land ownership is a mix of private ranchland, state trust land, and checkerboarded Kiowa National Grassland (USFS) parcels. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm dates and draw status with the current NM Hunting Rules & Information.
Every fact below was independently verified against the cited source.
The monument remains open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, with vehicle access to the rim from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear, dry conditions favor stargazing any season, though winter weather can affect road access.
Game Management Unit 56 covers the high plains, mesas, and grassland of Colfax County in the upper Canadian River country of northeastern New Mexico. Huntable species include pronghorn, elk, mule deer, black bear, cougar, and Merriam's turkey under zone- and species-specific seasons; northeastern New Mexico carries the most pronghorn draw licenses available statewide. Public land includes Kiowa National Grassland (USFS) and state trust parcels intermingled with private land — public parcels are checkerboarded, so plan access carefully. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm dates and draw status with the current NM Hunting Rules & Information.
60°F · Partly Cloudy