Capulin Peak is a summit located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. It reaches an elevation of 9,199 feet (2,804 meters) above sea level.
Etymology and Names: The peak's former name in the Tewa language of the nearby Puebloan peoples was Abepin. Its Spanish name is Cerro Capulín, with "capulín" meaning choke cherry in Spanish.
Geography: Capulin Peak has a topographic prominence of approximately 1,310 feet (399 meters) and an isolation distance of 8.84 miles (14.22 km) from its nearest higher summit.
Historical Significance: The Armijo Route of the Old Spanish Trail ran westward at the foot of the peak on its southern side. This route is now closely followed or paralleled by New Mexico State Road 96. The Old Spanish Trail was a historic trade route connecting Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, and the Armijo Route was a branch named after Antonio Armijo, a New Mexican trader who led a commercial expedition along this path in 1829–1830.
Recreation: Capulin Peak is accessible via the Capulin Peak Trail (#354), a 1.8-mile out-and-back trail near Sandia Park, New Mexico. The trail is considered moderately challenging and is popular for hiking, with best visiting conditions from March through November.
