On Monday, October 28, 2013 we left Colorado City, CO and traveled to Capulin, NM, with plans to stay at Capulin RV Park and visit the Capulin Volcano National Monument. For an interesting story about how a family from OK settled in Capulin, NM visit their web-site at http://www.capulinrvpark.com and read their story.

Like so many people, traveling Hwy 64/87, we for many years drove by this beautiful national park. We are very glad we decided to stay and visit the park. It is a pleasant way to spend a couple of days to include: hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, photo taking and to learn a little history of the area. What a diverse and beautiful country we live in!

Capulin Volcano National Monument is located off of Hwy 325, three miles north of the town of Capulin, NM on U.S. 64 and 87 and 30 miles east of Raton and I-25.

The following information was taken from this web-site: http://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm

The Mountain Tells Its Story:

Capulin Volcano erupted into existence 60,000 years ago. Capulin’s birth occurred toward the end of a period of regional volcanism that began 9 million years ago.

Capulin, where The Grasslands of the Great Plains and the Forests of the Rocky Mountains meet:

Although Capulin is primarily known for its volcanic geology, the park boasts a rich diversity of plant and animal life. The grasslands of the Great Plains and the forests of the Rocky Mountains combine at Capulin to form a unique ecotone which provides habitat for 73 species of birds in addition to numerous other animals. Mule deer can be found in abundance both at the base of the volcano and on its slopes, while elk, black bears, coyotes, and mountain lions occasionally make appearances within park boundaries.

Cah-poo-leen:

Plants in the area include prairie grasses and wildflowers, pinyon pine, ponderosa pine, and juniper. Legend has it that the volcano was named capulin (cah-poo-LEEN) after the Spanish word for chokecherry. The chokecherry grows throughout the park, along with mountain mahogany, scrub oak, and three-leaf sumac. (I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in the spring.)

You can read the full story, at the Capulin Volcano National Monument web-site:

http://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm

Too bad it was a cloudy, overcast day; however it was beautiful anyway!

This is the view once you reach the top of the volcano.

Look close in the upper right of the photo and you can see people down at the base.

This view is at the base looking up a wall of rock.

Look at the fur on Skye and Kloud to get a feel of just how windy it was at the top, and don’t pay any attention to the lady dressed like a Bag Lady!

One of the many picnic areas the park offers, table was sitting off to the right. We are so glad our “girls” love to hike!

The Pack

You can see the different types of vegetation in the background. A self-portrait with camera sitting on a picnic table. I had to set the camera and run over for the photo. I guess the girls, both looking in different directions, didn’t want their photo taken.

A beautiful area filled with diverse terrain.

We left the coach around 5:30pm and headed toward the Monument in hopes of seeing a beautiful sunset. We were not disappointed. views in every direction. At one point we pulled off the road and when I rolled down the window to take some photos, I heard a chorus of moos; their song was extremely loud. Maybe they were admiring the sunset as well.  This is cattle country!

“The reward is the Journey”