Slot Canyon Trail Kasha-katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
12 thoughts on “ Tent Rocks National Monument (Kasha-Katuwe) – Hiking Slots & Spires! Susan on June 18, 2017 at 5:37 am said: Thank you so much for your beautiful pictures and well written posts. Pictures of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico: Group of tent rocks along the Slot Canyon Trail. Tent Rocks Slot Canyon and Cave Loop CLOSED is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Length 3.1 miElevation gain 839 ftRoute type Loop.
- Slot Canyon Trail Kasha-katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument State Park
- Slot Canyon Trail Kasha-katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Visitor Center
Photos
Quicklinks
Fees
- Monument Fee Booth - 505-331-6259
- Private Vehicles - $5
- Groups:
Up to 25 individuals - $25
25-100 individuals - $100 - Schools:
No fee. Day-use permit required from BLM.
Educational Permit Request Form - Commercial Tours, Non-Profit Organizations, Commercial Filming, and Commercial Photography:
Specials-use permit required from BLM. Please contact Rio Puerco Field Office at 505-761-8700.
Slot Canyon Trail Kasha-katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument State Park
Season/Hours
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks has changed its hours of operation.
The Monument gates will be open 8am to 4pm, and the Monument will fully close at 5pm.
Hours of Operation
Entry into the Monument between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Closing procedures begin at 3:30 p.m. to clear the Monument by 5:00 p.m.
Visitors must be out of the fee booth gated area by closing time.
During the summer months, the Monument experiences increased visitation. Please be aware that visitors may experience entrance delays starting at 9am due to increased visitation and lack of available parking. Wait times may range from 30 to 90 minutes. As parking is made available, new visitors will be allowed entry.
Notice
To allow for Pueblo de Cochiti cultural observances and routine BLM maintenance, the Monument will be closed on:
New Year’s Day (January 1)
January 6
Friday before Easter
Saturday before Easter
Easter Sunday
Monday after Easter Sunday
May 3
July 13
July 14
July 25
November 1
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
Accessibility
There are ADA compliant rest rooms, picnic facilities, kiosks and parking.
The Cave Loop Trail is 1.2 miles long and is rated as easy. While the trail is gravel/sand there are a few sections that are accessible to wheelchairs.
At the Veterans' Memorial Overlook you will find ADA-accessible picnic areas, rest rooms, trails and facilities.
Trail Information
The national monument includes a national recreational trail. It is for foot travel only, and contains two segments that provide opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, geologic observation and plant identification. Both segments of the trail begin at the designated monument parking area.
Slot Canyon Trail Kasha-katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Visitor Center
The Cave Loop Trail is 1.2 miles long, rated as easy. The more difficult Canyon Trail is a 1.5-mile, one-way trek into a narrow canyon with a steep (630-ft) climb to the mesa top for excellent views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia mountains and the Rio Grande Valley. Both trails are maintained; however, during inclement weather the canyon may flash flood and lightning may strike the ridges.
The Veterans Memorial Trail is a 1-mile long loop trail, rated as very easy and is wheel chair accessible. The Veterans Memorial is located at the end of a 3 mile long gravel surfaced road overlooking picturesque Peralta Canyon and Jemez Mountain peaks. Picnic tables, shelters and toilets are available at both sites.
Prohibitions and Restrictions
The Monument is closed to dogs, excluding service animals.
Day Use Only
No open fires, shooting, alcoholic beverages, glass containers or climbing on the 'tent rocks.'
Do not trespass on tribal, private, or state land.
Access to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks may be closed by order of the Cochiti Tribal Governor. Closures will be posted at the gate.
No motorized vehicles or mountain bikes are allowed.
Protect live trees and shrubs. You may not cut green trees or firewood without a permit.
No collecting of plants, rocks, obsidian 'apache tears,' or wildlife.
Please stay on designated roads and trails.
Geocaching is prohibited.
Please, do not feed the wildlife
Hunting and recreational shooting is not allowed in the Monument.
Brochures, Maps, and Publications
Rocks Rock!Hit the Trails Learning Education Initiative
The Southwest is full of strange surprises. You don't need mescaline to experience otherworldly visions. The land provides that in spades — as long as you know where to look.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in northwest New Mexico is one of the more peculiar landscapes I've encountered in my travels. It feels foreign and alien, like you're walking on the surface of another planet. But instead of being unnerving, the place is downright captivating as it pulls you farther into its curious crevices. There's only one other place in the world I'm aware of that has the “fairy chimney“ rock formations similar to Kasha-Katuwe (which means “white cliffs“ in the Keresan language of the Pueblo), and you have to travel to Turkey to find it.
The national monument feels remote, but it's easily accessible at just 44 miles from Santa Fe and 58 miles from Albuquerque. It'd be easy to spend the morning and early afternoon hiking the trails of the park and then hitting the road for an evening in the city. I camped at nearby Tetilla Peak Recreation Area (27 miles away) on a Friday night in early May and woke up with the sun to beat the Saturday crowd. And trust me, there will most likely be crowds if it's a nice weekend in the spring or summer. The parking lot is small and fills up quickly. The secret is apparently out on this place.