Capulin Volcano National Monument
Part of the 8,000 square mile Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field, Capulin Volcano showcases the volcanic geology of northeastern New Mexico. The views are spectacular day or night, with views of 4 different states from the volcanic rim and one of the darkest night skies in the country. Whether it's a quick stop or a day's trip, enjoy exploring the landscape of this unique volcano!
Alerts
- ClosureVolcano Top Access Closed to Vehicles over 26 feet long and to all Trailers
The Volcano top access is closed to all RVs, buses, attached pull trailers, or any other vehicle over 26 feet in length due to public safety concerns and limited parking. Trailer drop-off and RV/bus parking are available at the visitor center.
- CautionNPS ↗Bicycles and Pedestrians now allowed on Volcano Road
Capulin Volcano Highway is now a roadway shared by multiple users that include vehicles, hikers, bikers, walkers and runners. Dogs on a minimum 6-foot leash are also allowed on the roadway. Be watchful of others that are present on the highway. Follow the new traffic flow signs and keep vehicle and bicycle speeds at the posted speed limits of 20 mph in general and 10 mph in the S curves.
- InformationNPS ↗Credit/Debit Card Only to pay entrance fees
Capulin Volcano only accepts credit/debit cards for entrance fees. Our cooperating association Park Store accepts cash, credit/debit cards, and checks. There are limited cash only entrance passes available through our cooperating association Park Store.
Fire nearby
- WildfirePost
32 mi from the park's reference point · 4,335 acres · 95% contained
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleAdmits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants to Capulin Volcano National Monument. The maximum size of a vehicle allowed on the Volcano Road is 26 feet in length and/or 8 feet in width. Passes may be upgraded to annual passes within 7 days of purchase. | $20 | |
| MotorcycleAdmits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Capulin Volcano accepts the America the Beautiful - Federal Lands Passes (Interagency Annual, Senior, and Access passes) in place of an entrance fee. Passes may be upgraded to annual passes within 7 days of purchase. | $15 | |
| Per PersonAdmits one person arriving on foot or bicycle, or by commercial operator to Capulin Volcano National Monument. | $10 | |
| Non-commercial Groups$10 per person for organized groups such as Scouts, Rotary, Clubs, Youth Groups, Churches, Reunions, etc. that do not qualify for an Academic Fee Waiver. Fees will not exceed the commercial fee for the same-sized vehicle. Youth 15 and under are free. Individuals or families with any valid Annual or Lifetime pass may use their pass for entry at the per person rate. | $10 | |
| Education/Academic GroupsEducational waivers will be provided in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations Title 36: if the request is from "organized tours or outings conducted for educational or scientific purposes related to the resources of the area visited by bona fide institutions established for these purposes. | Free | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanPass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $25 | |
| VanPass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $40 | |
| Mini-busPass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $40 | |
| Motor CoachPass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $100 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThe Capulin Volcano Annual Pass has a cost of $35.00 and is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. Admits one private vehicle and all occupants to Capulin Volcano National Monument. This pass can be purchased at the visitor center. Non-transferable and non-refundable. | $35 | |
Hours
| Volcano Road Volcano Top Vehicle Access | Daily · 8:30AM - 4:00PM |
| Capulin Volcano National Monument Trails | Daily · Sunrise to Sunset |
Volcano Road Volcano Top Vehicle Access: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 8:30AM - 4:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Holiday Closures | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Holiday Closures | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027Holiday Closures | Closed |
Capulin Volcano National Monument Trails: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Capulin Volcano Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Visitor Center is at the base of Capulin Volcano and includes a fee and information station, exhibits, theater for the park film, restrooms, and a park bookstore. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- View the Night Sky at Capulin Volcano30-120 Minutes
View the night sky at a volcano! Capulin Volcano National Monument is a International Dark Sky Place, which means thousands of stars are visible in the night sky. On Saturday evenings during the summer, rangers conduct dark sky programs here.
Opens on the Park Service site - Drive to the Top of Capulin Volcano30-120 Minutes
Drive to the top of an extinct cinder cone volcano on a historic road. Once at the top you can enjoy the views from the parking area or hike trails down into the crater of the volcano or around the rim of the crater.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the Visitor Center at Capulin Volcano5-30 Minutes
Learn more about volcanoes and Capulin's eruption by exploring the exhibits in the visitor center.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Trails at the Base of Capulin Volcano10-180 Minutes
The trails at the base of Capulin Volcano are less traveled and quieter than the ones on the top and offer a different view of the volcanic geology here.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Junior Ranger at Capulin Volcano20-45 Minutes
Learn about volcanoes, geology, and the history of Capulin Volcano while completing the Junior Ranger Program! Once you've finished the number of activities required for your age, turn the booklet in at the visitor center to earn a Junior Ranger…
Opens on the Park Service site
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Folsom HotelBuilding · Folsom · 5.2 mi
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New Mexico's national parks and the Southwest
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthPronghorn 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 59 birds, 35 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Great Horned Owl · Red-tailed Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Gamebirds & dovesMourning Dove · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersLewis Woodpecker · Northern Flicker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBroad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Canyon Towhee · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Kingbird · Chipping Sparrow · Cliff Swallow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Green-tailed Towhee · Hepatic Tanager · Hermit Thrush · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Sparrow · Lesser Goldfinch · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Northern Mockingbird · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Rock Wren · Say's Phoebe · Spotted Towhee · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small mammalsBotta's Pocket Gopher · Brush Mouse · Colorado Chipmunk · Deer Mouse · Hispid Pocket Mouse · Masked Shrew · Mexican Vole · Mexican Woodrat · Mountain Cottontail · Northern Grasshopper Mouse · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Piñon Mouse · Porcupine · Rock Mouse · Rock Squirrel · Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel · Western Harvest Mouse
PredatorsBadger · Black Bear · Coyote · Gray Fox · Mountain Lion
Hoofed mammalsElk · Mule Deer · Pronghorn Antelope
BatsBig Brown Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Little Brown Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Mexican Free-tailed Bat · Townsend's Big-eared Bat · Western Small-footed Myotis · Yuma Myotis
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Elevations range from 7247 feet at the park visitor center to 8182 feet on the crater rim trail. Summers usually have mild temperatures with highs averaging in the low to mid 80s F/30C with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Winters average from 40F/5C to 50F/10C, but temperatures vary. Snowfall is most common from December into April and may cause temporary closures of the volcano road. Sunny winter days are beautiful days to be in the park. Check weather conditions before visiting.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Capulin Volcano?
Entrance is $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot or bike. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants to Capulin Volcano National Monument.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Capulin Volcano?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Capulin Volcano-only annual pass is $35.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Capulin Volcano takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Capulin Volcano free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Capulin Volcano?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Capulin Volcano. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Capulin Volcano?
Standard hours are 8:30AM - 4:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Capulin Volcano right now?
3 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Bicycles and Pedestrians now allowed on Volcano Road; Volcano Top Access Closed to Vehicles over 26 feet long and to all Trailers; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Capulin Volcano?
89,489 recreation visits in 2025, number 227 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Capulin Volcano?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is Capulin Volcano good for stargazing?
Yes. Capulin Volcano is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
When was Capulin Volcano established?
1916.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at Capulin Volcano?
Elevations range from 7247 feet at the park visitor center to 8182 feet on the crater rim trail. Summers usually have mild temperatures with highs averaging in the low to mid 80s F/30C with occasional afternoon thunderstorms.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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