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    Capulin Volcano National Monument

    4.4 (48 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

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    What a view !!!
    James M.

    A little bit of a journey to get there (bring snacks, water), but worth it. Great Rangers who answered all our questions, provided extra info and spoke of the Star-gazing opportunities. Nice Visitor Center with clean restrooms(in-door), small theater, gift shop. Well maintained road up to top of Volcano with beautiful views all the way up. At the top there are also restrooms if needed after short drive or if scared of heighrs-LOL You can hike around the rim, well-paved path with benches throughout the hike (might be needed), you know if not accustomed to higher elevations. The hike is worth it for the views & exercise. You can also take same well paved path to bottom of the Volcano. Nice little area for a snack upon completion.

    Entrance
    Matt C.

    Impromptu pit stops are the best. When I woke up in Amarillo, I didn't plan to summit a volcano in New Mexico on my way back to Denver. Turns out that's exactly what I did! Located in the town of Capulin, I think Capulin Volcano National Monument's finest characteristic is its location to the main highway linking Colorado and Texas. When I initially saw the sign for Capulin Volcano saying it was 25 miles away, I had to pull over and look at a map. When I realized it was only 3 miles out of the way from my route, I knew it was a no brainer. After nearly missing the turn, a narrow road leads you to the visitor center. Watch out for cow crossing! Do the right thing and stop at the visitor center to pay for your parking permit. Ultimately, do I think $20 is steep for the experience? Yeah I do, but that's coming from a spoiled Coloradan where some of the most amazing hikes and views don't cost a dime. However, it goes to a good cause. Especially for a hidden gem like this. You drive up to the top, which is pretty awesome. A parking lot awaits you around 7,700 feet. Now the views are great. You can even see the glorious snow-capped Rockies off in the distance. As I mentioned earlier, this was a spontaneous stop. I was wearing jeans and non-hiking boots. The one mile loop is paved and only a few hundred feet up. So I said screw it, grabbed a water bottle and climbed up. I'm glad I did, especially seeing a bench struck by lightning! The 360 degree views are pretty cool. You can see far and wide. For a quick pit stop, especially to break up a long drive, spend an hour here at Capulin Volcano National Monument.

    Colorful lichen colonies can be up to 20,000 years old!!
    Lane T.

    On our last return to Dallas from Denver - despite the already long drive - we could not pass up a visit to this Nat'l Monument - just minutes off our route. We were both so thankful to have stopped. Our visit was worth every minute of delay to our return home! The views, the learning, and the exercise were all wonderful! Even if limited in time, it's worth a stop to drive to the top, walk down in - and along the rim - of this former volcano!

    Hours
    Alison B.

    We have wanted to drop in to see this monument for a while on our Colorado/Oklahoma road trips. Well we decided to make time this time and add in a 20 minute hike around the rim for a nice leg stretch of our 11.5 hour drive. I was getting excited because they actually offer four different hiking trails over the volcanoe ranging from 0.2 miles to 2 miles with most being moderate in skill level. No luck for us though. Their hours are limited, the fee is crazy at $20 per vehicle, and they close the road leading in. I am sure they would get more visitors if they lowered the price. Really disappointing we could not just drive up to the top at least to see a little of it. It is a dormant volcano! It is not like they made it or anything. It would be wiser to pay for a membership to National Parks ($80) then to spend $20 for one view.

    Entrance sign!
    Dalia A.

    Definitely worth hiking up the trail! From far away it looks like a simple volcano. The views are amazing. The only thing that sucks is all the little flies and gnats. They were pretty annoying but still worth it!

    Aimee W.

    So, real talk. Driving from Oklahoma in the metro OKC area all the way to Colorado Springs down I-40 through Texas's panhandle and then up through the tip of New Mexico is something to never try to do alone if you are an extrovert. Just sayin. You may go mad with all the desolate land. The random stops though make it totally worth it. If you are looking for a fun little stop and good break then for sure check this place out. The restrooms were clean. The visitor center was very cute and helpful and had awesome educational tidbits throughout. You can pay to drive up to the top of the volcano or hike it as well. We bought the ticket and off we went driving. The snow was not something we wanted to get all cozy with on up hill hike. I don't know what I expected from the volcano itself. I mean its covered in beautiful nature now. So it doesn't look like some crazy volcano my Oklahoma brain was expecting lol! You can walk all the way around the rim of the top and its is breathtaking. You can also walk down into the middle as well. Both paths are paved and when not icy it would be a breeze and awesome. We went ahead and braved the ice. We were quite entertained by us trying to stay standing and were not disappointed by the walk. And obviously I didn't die because here I am writing this review. There was plenty of parking up top. Lots of information boards about the history of the volcano and fun science facts if you wanted your kids to learn some fun things while out. Definitely worth the stop at least once.

    Drove 60 miles out of the way. Park was closed at 5 pm.
    Scott H.

    drove 60 miles out of my way because the National Park service failed to maintain the website for this National monument. at 5 p.m. on July 5th the gates were closed. This, despite their website saying the park was open until sunset.

    From a distance

    WOW beautiful view, even the surrounding area is gorgeous. Don't blink because you'll miss the small town.

    Micheal W.

    During our road-trip we decided to stop at several locations to stretch our legs and explore. It was quite windy/chilly outside so we didn't stay long.

    Whitney C.

    A great roadway stop find on the way to Colorado! Super friendly rangers, great views, kiddo loved it!

    Becky G.

    Scenery is beautiful. It's a $15 fee to view it. The drive up was nerve racking to me because it's a steep drop off that increases, of course as you make your way up the winding road to the top. No railing throughout the 20 mph route. There is a bricked off area on each side when you reach the parking area and get out. Just take precaution with children and definitely a good idea to be wearing good shoes for the walk/hike, depending on where you want to venture. Higher winds when we came so we didn't walk up to the very top with our littles. Very amazing photo opps.

    Robin S.

    I have a high regard for the National Park Service and I'll rate any national park at five stars. They're all awesome. National monuments are the next level down from that. Many are great; pretty much all are worthwhile visits. Capulin is a worthwhile visit if you're in the area. The volcano (a cinder cone) recently erupted, so the various volcanic features are still fresh, geologically speaking. So, the monument is educational as well as pretty cool. Descending the short caldera vent trail is pretty easy, although the walk back up is steep and will get your heart pumping. It's also not terribly exciting. The rim trail is a different story. It's not long as trails go, but the elevation change in such a short distance will definitely get your heart racing. It's totally worth it. Not only do you get a better view of the volcano's caldera, but you'll get great views of the surrounding features, such as pressure ridges. And great long-distance vistas. Stop in for a visit.

    BD K.

    Peaceful place. A nice day of hiking and a quiet picnic. Great family environment and fun, US national parks are true gems.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Capulin Volcano National Monument

    Review Highlights - Capulin Volcano National Monument

    For $5, you can drive to the top of an extinct volcano then hike down to the bottom of the crater.

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    Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Sugarite Canyon State Park

    4.3(3 reviews)
    25.5 mi

    An Afternoon Well Spent !!…read more It has been many years since I've been to the Raton area and typically whenever I was in the area it was just a quick to use the bathroom or get gas. On this visit, it was on a Friday afternoon and I had a few hours to kill and wanted to actually see some of the area. I remembered from years past that there were some lakes up in the mountains that I had always wanted to see and now was my chance. The Park is only about 20 miles from Raton and the roads were not that busy. The drive up is really nice as you see mountains, hills ranches, and some great scenery. On the way to Lake Maloya I stopped at one of the smaller lakes, Lake Alice and spent about half an hour checking it out. There really isn't access to that lake but you can tell its frequented by anglers. It is a nice small scenic lake. I then made my way up to Lake Maloya which is a reservoir for the area and right on the Colorado border. The lake is magnificent!! On a nice warm summer day, there was a nice breeze and no bugs. There were boaters on the lake, some people canoeing and some campers but it was not that busy at all. I spent a good two hours stopping and driving farther up the lake until I came to the gate that takes you to Dorothy Lake ( for another time). The views are just amazing, I suggest bringing a canoe or kayak and spending a good day there. I'm not sure if there is swimming since I didn't see anyone swimming in the water. Next up was Sugarite Canyon, and when you stop at the main entrance they use the honour system where you pay, so please pay!!! I made my way to the visitors center and got a map of the trails. The canyon is a great place to hike and I saw no one else on the trail and felt like I had the place to myself. I can't describe how nice it was walking through the canyon, and all there is to see. I highly recommend hiking with a buddy since it is in a remote area and I saw a few different animal tracks as I made my way through the trails. In short, this area is worth a visit, you can spend a few hours there or a few days, its truly part of the magnificence that is New Mexico.

    Google know all about this place but not yelp? We are fixing…read morethat right now. As the parks service says "The nature enthusiast will appreciate the abundance of wildlife, birds, butterflies, and wildflowers among the lakes, creeks, forests, and meadows. Nearly all outdoor recreation activities are possible: Fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and camping." All true. This is a huge park. Full of lakes, trails & wildlife. We took a 6 mile loop trail starting at the dam yesterday and saw NO ONE else. Lots of scat indicate there lots of moose and bear around, so be aware. There are numerous other trails as well add the aforementioned activities. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

    Photos
    Sugarite Canyon State Park - Ponderosa Trail

    Ponderosa Trail

    Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Sugarite Canyon State Park

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    Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve - Casa Grande

    Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve

    4.7(3 reviews)
    56.3 mi

    You just can't imagine how fantastic this place. The setting is in the Vermejo valley in Northern…read moreNew Mexico surrounded by mountains many which are still snow capped in June! After sitting on the veranda in the cool evening crisp clean mountain air we enjoyed the majestic view while having a few cocktails and reviewing the days adventures. This evenings menu had gourmet entrees that are first class. Our group had: Piñon Crusted Trout Pan seared Bison Tenderloin Grilled Ranchero Beef Ribeye Country Fried Quail Knots Seared Sea Scallops Friends listen this food was unbelievable. The chef knows his business. Any if nothing on the menu feels right, then ask the Chef for an off the menu item....like a gourmet cheese burger. They aim to please. The wait staff couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. They had no problem with substitutions or asking for extra. They know how to make customers happy. Put a visit to Vermejo Park Ranch on your bucket list. Truly you will not be disappointed.

    Vermejo Park Ranch has a history that has been sustained in its current usage. In 1841, it was a…read moreland grant from Mexico, and has been used for cattle ranching but recently it has been a sheltered tract reserved for hunting and fishing. Under current ownership, significant effort goes into maintenance of stable healthy populations of elk, deer, antelope, bear, turkey and bison. The guest buildings remain as they must have been 70 years ago and the 920 sq. miles continue to host several different ecosystems from wetlands to tundra above timberline. This site doesn't aim at 5 star modern luxury but rather maintaining that level of luxury consistent with reduced degradation of the land by the visitors and staff. No human effort is spared to make this a top flight experience. Everyone we met went out of their way to ensure our comfort, satisfaction and safety. "Fracking" is going on and is evident from the many gas wells one sees dotting the landscape. The gas company is responsible for many of the graded roads on the ranch. The most frequent use of the site is for guided hunting and fishing. We went for a guided nature photography experience. One finds this place with some difficulty. State Highway 555 turns into a gravel road a few miles from the minimally marked turnoff to the ranch. An electric gate blocks the entrance and is opened remotely if the telephone systems are working. While we were there the entire area had been blacked out by Centurylink. No fault of theirs but still an inconvenience. Check in was quick and simple. Rooms are situated around the main lodge which was rebuilt after a fire in a modern rendition of the prior structure. We stayed in an annex to the main lodge called Casa Minor. Our bedroom was large, 30 x 40 feet, with bay windows facing the front lawn. The bathroom was wheelchair accessible as was the shower. Two queen beds were comfortable and heating and cooling effective with a ceiling fan. Other rooms we saw with a single queen bed were smaller. Meals were gourmet, frequently featuring either a bison, elk, wild turkey or antelope meat option and tours of the working kitchen were encouraged. Usually hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail party with a full bar began as the first group returned to the lodge and continued until all groups are back and ready for dinner. Since different groups are returning from various distances, dinner can be late. A cooking class for preparation of game is planned and should be wonderful. Days here begin early so that one can be in place at sunup and frequently end with a drive back to the lodge after sunset, whether one is hunting with gun, bow, rod, or camera. All of the guides have a patina of experience but some more than others. We drew Gene Coon and he made the experience a gem. He used his ample experience to craft an exposure to the things we wanted to shoot photographically. He carefully judged our abilities and kept us safely within them.

    Photos
    Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve - Casa Grande

    Casa Grande

    Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve - Tonight's menu.

    Tonight's menu.

    Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve - The scallops

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    The scallops

    Trinidad Lake State Park

    Trinidad Lake State Park

    4.6(17 reviews)
    41.9 mi

    We stayed at this campground, in Colorado but close to the New Mexico border, for one night in our…read moresmall Class B camper van in late April, 2024. We actually had reservations further along at a national park but decided to shorten our driving distances for the day. We were able to make our reservation online. This is a very nice campground, with sites nicely spaced out and some nice amenities. We were in the Carpios Ridge campground which has 63 sites for RVs, trailers, and tents on a ridge 150' above the lake. We're actually pleased that our mapping app took us on an indirect route to the campground as our site did not have a water-view and we might have missed the lake otherwise! My understanding is that this is an Army Corps of Engineers (COE) campground that is managed by the state of Colorado. In April, 2024, the seven sites with full hookups were $41, with only 50 amp electricity: $36, and basic: $28. You also need to purchase a state of Colorado daily vehicle pass for $10. (This is expensive as we've stayed at other COE campgrounds for 1/2 off as holders of the NPS interagency senior pass, and without the need for a vehicle pass. $46 with state of Colorado management vs $18 were it COE management -- plus we had already paid for a site at Zapata Falls Campground that we wouldn't be using. The campground has clean restrooms and free showers (for campers only), as well as laundry facilities (in theory) and a book exchange. There are shared water spigots, as well as walking trails in the vicinity. There is also a shared dump station. The Visitors Center was already closed when we arrived and wasn't open yet when we left the following morning but we were able to buy our vehicle pass at a kiosk. We saw rangers patrolling the area. Only two concerns are worth noting. First, as already mentioned, the discrepancy between pricing of state and COE campgrounds. Also, the washing machine ate my $2 without the machine starting. More than the irritation of losing the $2, we really needed to do laundry after having been on the road for few week.

    We stayed one night on our way into Durango. And one night on our way out. We didn't actually spend…read moremuch time there, but I was BLOWN away by the cleanliness of the bath house. Plenty of stalls, free showers, and room to get dressed/ready if you need to with outlets. Washing machines, vending machines, and a water fountain. I was blown away. Would love to stay again.

    Photos
    Trinidad Lake State Park - Campsite 35

    Campsite 35

    Trinidad Lake State Park - View from campsite 35 when you walk past a couple trees

    View from campsite 35 when you walk past a couple trees

    Trinidad Lake State Park

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    Black Mesa State Park

    Black Mesa State Park

    3.8(9 reviews)
    60.3 mi

    Sites are small even though the site reads large rigs, our 40 ft fit was difficult to get out and…read moreto dump site. Hook ups are on wrong side for rigs, hoses and electric cords need to reach under to attach. Doggies need shoes bootie, goat heads and large barrel stickers WARNING. HIKING TRAILS, really exceptional with amazing sights, this is a DARK SKY at night park with beautiful views. WiFi is available when gift shop is open 830 a.m -1230 This campground is reserved all on line with self serve when you arrive. Ranger is there for need but not visible camp host, bait shop canoe rental available. Know your weather report before going,does get sudden wind storms and cold. Tent sites are available look level ,clean . Dump station on way out must be well thought of in approach to dump, wider turn must be made onto grass to approach and empty.

    If nothing else I am an abundantly honest reviewer. I am a resident of Oklahoma and I think it's…read morecool that we have a park area around the highest point in the state, but beyond the mesa itself, there's not much here. Of course this is in a desolate spot in the far eastern part of the panhandle and that's just not much around, AT ALL! If you do decide to come out don't expect to be accommodated beyond a permanent port a potty and a fence with some basic rules of the park. Overall really not much can be expected from the state of OK as there really isn't much here. The views though of the landscape are second to none. It really is quite incredible the nature and wildlife that you can find out here. Despite giving this only 3 stars I say it's well worth the trip out to see it, but I don't want to give it 5 stars and set somebody up for disappointment. If you're going to make the drive out, be sure to look up the fossilized dino tracks just up the road and the tri state marker. Both are within 10 minutes of the park entrance!

    Photos
    Black Mesa State Park
    Black Mesa State Park
    Black Mesa State Park - The entry

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    The entry

    Capulin Volcano National Monument - hiking - Updated May 2026

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