Raton Capulin Volcano Loop

 

 
Capulin Volcano - NPS Photo

Capulin Volcano (NPS Photo)

The Capulin Loop in northern New Mexico rides from Raton through interesting volcanic landscapes with a side visit to the Capulin Volcano National Monument. The northern New Mexico route goes through rolling open range lands with antelope and deer through forested areas. The monument has a visitor center just off the highway. There is a .2-mle trail down into the volcano and a 1-mile trail along the rim. From the rim you can look over the "Cimarron Cut-off" of the Santa Fe Trail. To the north is the dramatic Raton Pass into Colorado.

Near Folsom (pop. 75) is the Folsom site that was excavated in 1926 where distinctive tools known as Folsom points dated from 9000BC to 8000BC were found.

On NM72 you pass the option to turn north to the mountainous, heavily wooded, Sugarite Canyon State Park at Carisbrook where there are lakes and hiking trails.

Getting There: This is a loop from Raton so the ride can start and end anywhere on the route. Raton is in north central New Mexico on I-25 near the Colorado border. Start at I-25 and US64.


Capulin Loop

Capulin Loop Route Map

Distance: 73 miles.

Roadways: All paved.

Options:

  • The entrance to Sugarite Canyon State Park is about 1.75 miles north of NM72 at Carisbrook and Lake Alice. The much larger Lake Maley is about 5 miles north of NM72 and the Colorado border is 6.2 miles north. About a 600' climb up the canyon to Lake Maley.
  • Also see the Springer - Cimarron Loop.
  • Colorado 12 from Trinidad to La Vieta is a very scenic ride. See the Stonewall Century.

Notes:
 
 

Raton Capulin Volcano Loop // miles, Feet total elevation gain
Mileage Waypoint Description

0

I-25 & US64, east side Ride east on US64 towards Capulin. Pass Potato Mountain, Hunter Mesa, and Juan Torres Mesa are on the left (north).

11.7

NM193 Stay on US64. Ride through some lava fields on both sides of the road. Laughlin Peak, one of a number of volcanic cones, is visible to the south.

27

Capulin, NM Take NM325 north.

30

Capulin Volcano Capulin Volcano National Monument - Stop for a visit. Allot time for a climb to the rim and into the volcano. Take NM325 north to Folsom.

37

Folsom Take NM72 west and climb Johnson Mesa. At 62.2 miles descend from Manco Burro Pass into Yankee Canyon to Carisbrook.

68.5

Carisbrook NM72 & NM526. Stay on NM72 to Raton. NM526 goes north to Sugarite Canyon State Park.

72

Raton at I-25 Take the I-25 frontage road on the east side of the highway south back to the start.

73.5

US64 & I-25 Finish at US64

Elevation Profile

Capulin Loop Elevation Profile