Capulin Mountain NATIONAL MONUMENT NEW MEXICO the last stages of a great period of volcanic preceding volcanic activity. These cinder above the summit of the mountain. Con­ activity which was widespread throughout and ash eruptions were so recent, geologi­ tinued protection has allowed these wild western North and South America. Evi­ cally, that some of the steep-sided cinder creatures to live here undisturbed. Capulin Mountain dences of this older and more intense activity cones in this volcanic area appear as if they can be seen from the mountain in the scores had just cooled. Folsom Man State Monument NATIONAL MONUMENT of other nearby volcanic hills and peaks. The largest of these is the Sierra Grande, an Trees and Flowers Not far from Capulin Mountain is the A symmetrical cinder cone, surrounded by spectacular evidences of yolcanism, whose famous Folsom site where artifacts of pre­ extinct volcano rising some 4,000 feet above The beauty of Capulin Mountain is en­ slopes in spring are colored with many species of wildflowers. historic man definitely associated with fossil the surrounding plain, about 10 miles to the hanced by an abundance of vegetation. Part southeast. Northwest of Capulin are a num­ bones of extinct animals were first found. of the mountain is grassland, and part is This site is preserved as Folsom Man State ber of mesas, capped with black lava. The forest. On the lower slopes, the trees are metrical form rises over 1,000 feet above Monument and is about 10 miles west of the Capulin Mountain is an extinct volcano in three largest are Barella, Raton, and Johnson mostly ponderosa and pinyon pine, juniper, its base to the highest point on the crater rim town of Folsom. the northeastern corner of New Mexico, from Mesas. Fishers Peak, south of Trinidad, and mountain-mahogany. Higher up the at an elevation of 8,215 feet above sea level. Before this discovery, man was thought to whose summit may be seen parts of five Colo., is on a similar mesa, and the Spanish slopes, Gambel oak, chokecherry, and squaw- The top of the cone has an irregular rim have been in North America for 2,000 years. States—New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Peaks, northwest of Trinidad, are a pair of bush extend over the crater's rim. Legend about 1 mile in circumference and contains In 1926, however, a field party from the Col­ Oklahoma, and Texas. The crest of this extinct volcanoes. has it that the mountain was named Capulin a crater about 415 feet deep, from the highest orado Museum of Natural History, excavat­ picturesque mountain is dented by a sym­ In this great volcanic area, the lava erupted after the Spanish word for the chokecherry. ing fossil bison bones at this site, found a metrical crater. Its slopes were built up by part of the rim. in a succession of flows. The series of erup­ During May, June, and July, you may ex­ finely chipped stone projectile point. During layers of ash and cinders. At its western The mountain is chiefly built of loose cin­ tions were separated by long periods of inac­ pect to find a beautiful array of wildflowers, the summer of 1927, another field party from base lies a jumble of rough and ragged ders, ash, and other rock debris of volcanic tivity. During these inactive times, erosion including bluebells, daisies, Indian paint­ the Colorado Museum discovered four addi­ rocks—a river of lava cooled to stone. Today, explosions. These materials were laid down cut valleys and wore down portions of the brush, and bluebonnets (lupines). tional points, all seemingly associated with in contrast with its violent origin, the sleep­ by successive eruptions, probably of consid­ old lava sheets. This action formed new Folsom site. the fossil bones of extinct bison. When the ing cone is lush with a green blanket of trees, erable duration. The coarse materials fell channels and lower terrain over which suc­ fifth point was found, before it was com­ shrubs, and grasses. back upon the vent, piling up to form the ceeding lava flows spread. This process was Wildlife pletely uncovered, archeologists were invited Rising alone above a relatively level plain, conical mound. The fine materials and dust repeated at least three times. The oldest Deer, porcupines, squirrels, and other to see the find in place. Dr. Barnum Brown, Folsom point from Folsom site. Capulin Mountain forms a conspicuous land­ were carried away from the mountain by the lavas, which have been exposed by erosion, animals are abundant and frequently seen. heading an American Museum of Natural mark. It was undoubtedly noticed by early wind. After the eruptions, vegetation gained are found on the tops of the highest mesas. Birds are numerous, adding color and music History field party in 1928, found additional pioneers traveling the famous Santa Fe Trail, footholds on the steep, unstable slopes, until The last series of eruptions created Capulin to the other pleasing aspects of this national projectile points associated with the bones. some 30 miles to the west and south. This in time they became stabilized. Mountain; they were ejections mostly of cin­ monument. Most spectacular of these are In all, 19 points were found. Early man region was long the hunting ground of the The most recent geological work done ders and ash with less lava flow than in the the great golden eagles which sometimes soar Kiowa and Comanche Indians whose resist­ during the summer of 1955 indicates that ance to the encroachments of the white man Capulin Mountain was active about 7,000 Parking area near rim of crater. Payers of volcanic ash exposed by the road cut. has added a vivid chapter to the history of years ago. Its relative youth is attested by Spanish, Mexican, and early American set­ the high angle of the slopes; they are so tlement in the Southwest. steep that rock fragments frequently roll down. Other indications of the youth of the Geology mountain are the unmodified character of the cone and its crater, and the fresh appearance Capulin Mountain is one of the largest and of the cinders. most symmetrical of the geologically recent The mountain is interesting not only be­ cinder cones in the United States. Its geo­ cause of its origin, but because it represents The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people. lived here because he found herds of bison crater. Another, about 1 mile long, entirely in this area which he used for food and cloth­ circles the crater, following its rim. Along ing. Particularly convincing is the fact that this trail, significant features are marked to the bison skeletons are mostly complete, ex­ correspond with numbered paragraphs in a cept for the tail bones, which are missing in self-guiding leaflet. every case. Evidently the ancient hunters From the highest point on this rim trail, skinned the beasts on the spot after killing an inspiring view may be obtained of parts Capulin Mountain them with stone lance points, and in skinning of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, "the tail goes with the hide." and Colorado. On a clear day, Pikes Peak, NATIONAL MONUMENT The Folsom point is a long, thin, well- nearly 200 miles to the north, may be seen. flaked blade, with concave base and distinc­ Looking westward, the scene is particu­ tive longitudinal grooves on each side. Now larly magnificent. The majestic, snowcapped NEW MEXICO well known, the type is found chiefly in the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range form a high plains of New Mexico, Colorado, and mighty backdrop to the wide expanse of Nebraska. grass-carpeted rangeland, broken by volcanic hills and mesas. How To Get to Capulin Mountain There is a picnic area near the western base Entrance to the monument is on State Route of Capulin Mountain, but no water is avail­ 325 from western Oklahoma, 7 miles from able. Food, lodging, and supplies must be the town of Folsom and 3 miles from the obtained at the nearby towns of Capulin, town of Capulin which is on U. S. 64 and 87, Des Moines, and Folsom. main artery entering New Mexico from north­ western Texas, via Clayton. It is 29 miles Administration from the modern little city of Raton, metrop­ Capulin Mountain National Monument olis of northeastern New Mexico and gate­ was established by Presidential proclamation way to south-central Colorado. in 1916 and now contains 680 acres. It is administered by the National Park Service of About Your Visit the United States Department of the Interior. The monument is accessible throughout the A ranger, who resides in the town of Capu­ entire year, except on rare occasions when the lin, is available to provide information about road to the summit of the mountain may be the monument and its features, to enforce closed for a few days by heavy snow. This regulations, and to be of service. For further road, which approaches the mountain from information, write to the Regional Director, the west, spirals the cone, ending in a parking National Park Service, Box 1728, Santa Fe, area on the western lip of the crater. A small N. Mex., or to Ranger-in-Charge, Capulin shelter is located there. From the parking Mountain National Monument, Capulin, area, a trail leads down to the bottom of the N. Mex. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fred A. Seat on, Secretary NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, Director REVISED 1957 U.