Hiking in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument > Hiking

Photographs of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Looking back along the course of the Canyon Trail

Kasha-Katuwe National Monument has parking, a self-pay fee station (entry $5 per vehicle in 2011, part of which goes to the Cochiti tribe), rest rooms, picnic places but no campground, all set amid juniper-pinyon pine woodland next to the road, from which two paths lead east into the formations, both designated National Recreational Trails.

Cave Loop Trail: The 1.2 mile Cave Loop Trail is the easiest; this soon passes one group of cones then curves around the base of a side valley, crossing a few sandy washes and passing by one small 'cave' in the banded tuff cliffs, while staying mostly level. The views are good although the best formations are out of sight, higher up the valley sides. The way ahead is frequently signposted, and the path has an above average number of regulatory notices, advising of the dangers of snakes, the need to stay on the trail, the ban on collecting rocks, etc.

Canyon Trail: The 1.5 mile (one-way) Canyon Trail is much more interesting, one of the best short trails in the state. This branches off the Cave route and starts off along a stony wash that soon narrows to a proper slot canyon into the tuff. The ravine has curvy walls just a few feet apart but many feet deep, long shady passageways through generally smooth rocks containing embedded pebbles, and just a few obstructions caused by dryfalls and chokestones; maximum height 3 feet. The pretty slot opens out quite suddenly after a few hundred meters, to a still narrow gorge that has trees growing in the streambed, after which the canyon ascends more steeply, through another brief narrow part then climbs even more sharply to the top of the plateau, where it splits into several paths that lead to viewpoints looking out over the Tent Rock formations, down Peralta Canyon and across to the far away Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains. Total elevation gain is 600 feet. The plateau is more sparsely vegetated than the valley floor, bearing grasses, wildflowers and manzanita bushes. The most spectacular rocks are all around the last part of the trail, where they rise up to 90 feet, pure white, and altogether very impressive. The path is popular, and despite the above average difficulty, most people manage to get to the end.