Have you ever climbed into a volcano? That might sound like a new adventure series’s plot, but you can climb into a volcano at Capulin Volcano National Monument.
We have been taking advantage of my son’s Every Kid Outdoors Pass and visiting as many National Park sites as possible. For the sake of this post, I will use the term National Park to mean any park site, including historic sites, monuments, etc.
*Some of the links in my posts may be affiliate links. See below for more information. *
We had a chance to visit Capulin Volcano this spring, and I am very glad we made the time to stop. Capulin was not on our original itinerary, but we saw that it was not too far out of the way and decided to try and make it work. While it is not an exceptionally large park, it is worth a visit.
Our Suggested Itinerary
I recommend starting at the visitor’s center to better understand the volcano’s history and the great science behind it. Your students can also pick up their Junior Ranger books and work on them as you tour. This is also your chance to use the restroom. There is a restroom facility up at the volcano, but it is only open seasonally.
Once you have seen the visitor’s center, you can head up the road to the volcano. If you have a camper, you must unhook it before driving the steep, narrow road to the top of the volcano. However, they provide parking spaces for campers at the visitor’s center.
It is a short drive up to the parking lot at the top of the volcano; once at the top, there are beautiful views and several information boards with more information about the volcano. Then, you can start down the trail into this extinct volcano. I consider this relatively short paved trail easy/moderate hiking. When we went, there was some snow cover that made a few spots icy. There is hardened lava rock all along the trail, and my children were very excited to think about actually being inside a volcano.
Once you have finished your walking tour, you can return to the visitors center to turn in your completed Junior Ranger books. Most people could probably complete the visitors center and crater hike in one to two hours. However, if you have time, you can take longer. There are some additional trails near the visitor’s center to see more of the area’s nature.
Science at Capulin Volcano National Monument
Obviously, the main science focus at this park is volcanos and the science behind why and how they form. This particular volcano is an extinct cinder cone volcano. We learned about the different types of volcanoes.
*If you are a family that believes in young earth creationism, you will want to talk to your children about timelines different from those in the exhibits. *
In addition to the information on volcanoes, there is information on different animals and plant life in the area.
If you get a chance to visit, let me know how you like it, and don’t forget to take your park passport and get it stamped! We have found that the passport is a great way for the children to get a souvenir at each park with no additional expense after the initial purchase.
Basic Information about Capulin Volcano
Where:
Visitor Center
46 Volcano Highway
Capulin, NM 88414
Hours of Operation:
Visitor’s Center: Seven days a week (Closed Major Holidays)
Summer: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Spring/Fall/Winter: 8:30 am- 4:00 pm
Costs:
$20 per private vehicle (Free with 4th grade or National Parks Pass)
Homeschool Discount:
Scheduled Group Field Trips can be exempt
Website:
https://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm
Food:
There is no food available on site. However, there is a picnic area if you bring your own food or several restaurants in the town a few miles away.
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