I Hiked the Rim of a 60,000-Year-Old Volcano | Capulin Volcano Hike

Walking the rim of a 60,000-year-old volcano is an incredibly humbling experience. Capulin Volcano in New Mexico is one of the most perfectly preserved cinder cones in the United States, and hiking its edge feels like stepping into a different era. On this solo trek, I’m navigating the narrow trail that tightly circles the massive, plunging central crater. You're right beside me as we climb to the highest point, looking down into the ancient volcanic vent and staring out across the vast, sweeping plains where you can actually see four different states at once. It’s a quiet, surreal, and breathtaking walk on top of deep geological history.