Raton, New Mexico
Where History, Culture and the Arts Meet
The geology surrounding Raton is truly fascinating. People from all over the world have come to the area to study the Raton Basin, Capulin Volcano, and the Irridium layer on Goat Hill.
The landmarks like Starvation Peak, Point of Rocks, and Wagon Mound, served as guides for early traverlers, and provided points of reference for the Santa Fe Trail.
Capulin National Monument
A preserved volcanic cone
Capulin Volcano
Located about thirty miles east of Raton on NM Highway 64/87, this extinct volcano features one of the best preserved volcano cones in the world. Visitors can drive around and up the outside of the cone, and at its' peak, actually walk down into the center of the crater.
The visitor's center at the entrance to this National Monument provides a video explanation of the creation of the volcano, a well-stocked book store, and knowledgeable staff.
Visit the National Park Service site for Capulin Volcano National Monument.
Goat Hill
The Goat Hill overlook just west of downtown Raton.
Goat Hill
The Goat Hill overlook provides a panoramic view of Johnson Mesa to the east, Eagle Tail Peak and Tinaja mountains to the south, and various extinct volcanoes throughout the plains to the east, southeast of Raton.
The overlook offers a view of the lower end of Railroad Canyon, past Bartlett Mesa, to the west end of the Raton Mesa Group of mesas and volcanic peaks (including 8720' high Sierra Grande, and 7761' high Eagle Tail Peak) to 7,533' high Red River Peak. The city of Raton sprawls out below.
The view offers a glimpse of The 6,930' high Wagon Mound, a Santa Fe Trail landmark on the Cimarron Route, more than 60 miles south.
An example of the Iridium Layer anomoly is located just west of the flag on the old Raton Pass road.
Raton Basin
Looking west toward Johnson Mesa from the Capulin Volcano
Raton Basin
These discontinuous mesas, sandstone-capped by seven-million-year-old basaltic lava flows, dominate the geography northeast, east & southeast of Raton, where the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail passed. Photograph shows Johnson Mesa, which is located just east of Raton, in the background.
The Raton Mesa Group influenced the location of prehistoric trails of the native people as well as later travelers on the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail, a commerce route in the mid 1800's, which ran through Raton Pass. The stream flows and springs provided water and forage sites.
The Johnson Mesa, where evidence of the "Folsom Man" was found, is part of the Raton Basin which also holds importance as showing evidence of the iridium layer, which is thought to be caused by a large meteor striking the earth and causing the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event.