I exited Interstate-25 heading southeast through New Mexico toward Texas when I saw a sign for Capulin Volcano National Monument. My interest was piqued as I find volcanoes interesting and I love visiting National Park Service properties. I didn’t know what to expect though being at the crossroads of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Would it be like Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho or maybe more like Sunset Crater National Monument in Arizona? After visiting this fascinating landmark, I can say it isn’t like either and worthy of a pit stop if you find yourself passing by.
The Capulin cinder cone rises 1,300 feet above the plains like the stereotypical volcanic cone. There are others nearby, but not with this same perfect shape. Because it is such a prime specimen, the land it sits on was left out of homesteading properties and essentially preserved way back in 1891. In 1916, President Wilson declared it a national monument. However, before that it was already a landmark to thousands of people who had made their way west.
Just as Pikes Peak, Capulin Volcano sits at the edge of the plains making it a major way marker on the Santa Fe Trail. Along with some other formations nearby, they needed to be aware of this area too because it was known to have many attacks from the local Native Americans.
Today, the monument invites visitors to get a different look at an extinct volcano as a road was constructed spiraling up the mountain where visitors can then hike around the crater’s rim or down into it. I did both as the trails are not very long.
Crater Rim Trail
This trail leads around the rim of the volcano presenting magnificent wide vistas to those choosing to hike it. The trail follows the contours of the rim, so at times it is a bit steep going up or down. The sides of the trail are covered in vegetation. Many wildflowers were in bloom. I also saw several lovely birds and followed a collared lizard for a while as he ran ahead of me on the path.
Crater Vent Trail
This shorter trail goes right down to the heart of the crater to the place that lava shot forth thousands of years ago. There is a band of cinder stone reaching up one side of the crater and lots of lovely plants all around. Birds and lizards were abundant and allegedly deer are a regular site in the crater at dawn and dusk. You can sort of see the actual vent once you get to the bottom.
Both trails are paved and worth a walk. There are two other short trails within the park. With a major storm brewing as I was finishing the vent trail, I decided to hit the road again. It was a good choice. Within a few miles and minutes down the highway, I ran into a very severe storm with quarter-size hail.
Palo Duro Canyon
That night, my final adventure for this road trip was a pit stop at Palo Duro Canyon just south of Amarillo, Texas. I remember going there once as a kid with my family. We watched the pageant they stage in the amphitheater. I figured this road trip would be a perfect chance to revisit this Texas State Park. However, it ended up just being a place to stay overnight since that night was an extremely harsh storm that rocked my van (where I was sleeping) and ripped up the tents of neighboring campers. This storm caused some major trail damage too, so the few trails I was interested in were no longer a possibility, so I just completed my journey home to Dallas.
