Capulin Volcano National Monument is a National Monument in New Mexico. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Capulin Volcano
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Capulin Volcano. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Capulin Volcano the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:08 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:03 PM | 244° | 9h 55m |
| February | 6:45 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:37 PM | 255° | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:04 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:30 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:49 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 295° | 14h 08m |
| June | 5:37 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:17 PM | 300° | 14h 40m |
| July | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:16 PM | 298° | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:14 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:49 PM | 288° | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:05 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:04 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:21 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:48 PM | 247° | 10h 13m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 241° | 9h 39m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.7817, -103.9710); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Capulin Volcano, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:44 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 4:00 AM – 5:40 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 1:52 AM – 4:42 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 11:59 PM – 3:59 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:09 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:03 PM – 2:13 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:24 PM – 12:14 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:33 PM – 10:13 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:47 PM – 8:17 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Elevations range from 7247 feet at the park visitor center to 8182 feet on the crater rim trail. Summers usually have mild temperatures with highs averaging in the low to mid 80s F/30C with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Winters average from 40F/5C to 50F/10C, but temperatures vary. Snowfall is most common from December into April and may cause temporary closures of the volcano road. Sunny winter days are beautiful days to be in the park. Check weather conditions before visiting.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 35% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Capulin Volcano National Monument is located in northeast New Mexico. The monument is located 33 miles east of Raton, NM, and 57 miles west of Clayton, NM on NM325 3 miles north of US64. No public transportation systems serve the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
NM
CO
CO