Kilbourne Hole/Aden Crater Volcanoes
Kilbourne Hole is a Maar volcanic crater, located 30 miles west of the Franklin Mountains. The crater is thought to be 80,000 years old. The hole is over a mile wide, and over 300 feet deep. Cell phones are out of range here.
FROM EL PASO:
ELP 1. Travel I-10 West to exit 6. At light, turn LEFT onto Loop 375 West
ELP 2. Travel Loop 375 West for 1 mile. At light, turn RIGHT onto TX 20
ELP 3 .Travel on TX 20 to next light. Turn LEFT onto TX 259
ELP 4. Travel TX 259 for 1 mile into NM. At stop sign, curve RIGHT onto NM 28
ELP 5. Travel NM 28 for 3 miles to LEFT onto NM 182. [now, go to #6, below]
FROM LAS CRUCES:
LC 1. Travel I-10 East to Exit 0, Anthony, TX. At light, turn RIGHT onto TX FM1905
LC 2. Travel TX FM1905 for1 mile. At light, turn RIGHT onto TX 20.
LC 3. Travel TX 20 to next light. Turn LEFT onto TX FM1905 (again)
LC 4. Travel TX FM1905 2.7 miles into NM. At stop sign, turn LEFT onto NM 28
LC 5. Travel NM 28 for 3.2 miles to RIGHT onto NM 182. [now, go to #6, below]
6. Travel NM 182 for 1 mile to RIGHT onto Alverez Rd.
7. Travel on Alverez Rd for 7 ¼ miles. It will curve LEFT and soon become dirt.
8. On dirt road, stay to LEFT and begin gradual ascent to top of escarpment
8. At top of escarpment, continue STRAIGHT and travel to intersection beyond RR.
9. Turn RIGHT and travel < ½ mile to intersection on other side of cattle gap. Now…
…FOR PHILLIP’S HOLE: (Maar)
PH 1. Turn LEFT at cattle-gap intersection (#9, above) and travel for 7-plus miles.
PH 2. Turn RIGHT onto small road and travel ½ mile to Phillip’s Hole.
…FOR HUNT’S HOLE: (Maar)
HH 1. Turn LEFT at cattle-gap intersection (#9, above) and travel for 10 miles
HH 2. Road will suddenly begin undulating for 1 to 1 ½ miles as it passes over lava flows
HH 3. Then turn RIGHT onto what is little more than a dirt driveway.
HH 4. Travel a few hundred feet to rim of Hunt’s Hole.
…FOR KILBOURNE HOLE: (Maar)
KH 1. Continue STRAIGHT at cattle-gap intersection (#9, above) and travel for 4 ½ miles.
KH 2. Just beyond road-material dump on left, turn LEFT onto narrower road
KH 3. Travel for 9 miles to Kilbourne Hole, visible several hundred feet to right.
KH 4. Park, lock car, and walk (very arduous on cinder slope) to top.
…FOR ADEN CRATER: (Volcano)
AC 1. Continue STRAIGHT at cattle-gap intersection (#9, above) for 20 miles to second lava flow. Road is one-lane through this lava flow!
AC 2. < ¼ mile beyond this lava flow, turn LEFT onto what is little more than a primitive two-track driveway.
AC 3. Travel for 4 ½ miles to LEFT fork, then 1 more mile to LEFT turn.
AC 4. Travel for ¼ mile. Park, lock car, and walk the ¾-mile “lava road”, then path, to top and into Aden Crater.
WARNINGS: High-clearance vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs, are recommended for travel in the desert. Go SLOWLY over all cattle gaps and lava flows that cross the road to avoid losing control and/or damaging your vehicle. In all cases we urge you to drive sensibly due to the conditions.