New Mexico · Hiking

Top of Capulin Volcano

Top of Capulin VolcanoPhoto: NPS Photo
May–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Is Top of Capulin Volcano open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Capulin Volcano National Monument. It doesn't name Top of Capulin Volcano, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Volcano Top Access Closed to Vehicles over 26 feet long and to all Trailers

    Park closure covering Capulin Volcano National Monument · NPS · Capulin Volcano National Monument

  • Bicycles and Pedestrians now allowed on Volcano Road

    Park alert covering Capulin Volcano National Monument · NPS · Capulin Volcano National Monument

As of · Source: NPS · Capulin Volcano National Monument. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Top of Capulin Volcano is a hike to the summit of an extinct cinder cone volcano within Capulin Volcano National Monument in northeastern New Mexico, managed by the National Park Service. The Crater Rim Trail leads to the highest point in the monument, 8,182 feet (2,494 meters), and from there you can see the northern part of the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field and the highest point in Oklahoma, Black Mesa. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Capulin show July highs around 86°F with lows near 54°F, and June and August bring the most wet days. That station sits well below the summit, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike is within a cluster of volcanic features. The Crater Vent and Crater Rim Trail are both about 0.2 miles away, the Collapsed Lava Tube is about 0.4 miles off, and the Historic Chimney is about 0.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Top of Capulin Volcano

    Best months: May–June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      46° / 15°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      49° / 18°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      57° / 24°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      64° / 31°

      6 wet

    5. May

      74° / 40°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 49°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 54°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 53°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 46°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 33°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 22°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 14°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Capulin, NM, 3.4 mi away at 6,840 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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