Road Trip: Capulin Volcano

It was peaceful and quiet as we drove through northeast New Mexico that day, which is a big difference to what it would have been like about 60,000 years ago. Back then, there were about 100 active volcanoes in this area. It was a time of "fire, ash, glowing lava, and ear-shattering explosions." You can still see some of evidence of that volcanic time, including one area that has been preserved as the Capulin Volcano National Monument.



Capulin Volcano was formed between 56,000 and 62,000 years ago, and is an extinct cinder cone volcano. It rises about 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, and was formed by successive eruptions that piled up a collection of lava, ash, rock debris and loose embers. You can drive right up to the top of the volcano, and then take a short hike into the former crater at the top.





Also at the top are overlooks, which provide panoramic views of other nearby extinct volcanoes.



Apparently from here you can see portions of five states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Colorado). I couldn't tell for sure which states we were looking at (besides New Mexico, obviously).