26 Oct Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico contains unique rock formations originating from a volcanic eruption approximately six or seven million years ago. While visiting, you can walk on trails that lead you to scenic overlooks and Cave Rock as well as trails that lead you through the slot canyons themselves. I visited the national monument while on a road trip from Pennsylvania to California with a few friends, and I am glad we were able to include it on our itinerary.

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Contents:

1) National Monument Location

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts on the Monument

5) Background of the Tent Rocks

6) Wildlife in the Area

7) Hiking and Walking Trails

8) Recommended Items to Bring for Hiking

1) National Monument Location

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, or Kasha-Katuwe for short, is located within the Pueblo de Cochiti, New Mexico. For reference, it is approximately 50 minutes west from Santa Fe and one hour north of Albuquerque.

If you are driving from Albuquerque, follow I-25 until you come to the exit for NM-22. Follow this road until you then turn right onto Indian Service Route 92. The monument will be on the right.

If you are driving from Santa Fe, follow I-25 until you come to the exit of NM-16. Drive to the end of the road then turn right onto NM-22. Lastly, turn right onto Indian Service Route 92, and the monument will be on the right.

Some nearby attractions include La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in Santa Fe and Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Parking

There are a few different parking lots inside the national monument area. You can easily find them after you pass through the ticket booth. If the first lot is full, try the next one, for they all provide fairly easy access to trailheads and other attractions.

Lodging Near Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

There are not a lot of lodging options within the immediate vicinity of the national monument. Nevertheless, the nearby cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe offer hundreds of accommodations.

Nearby Airports

The closest international airport is the Albuquerque International Sunport, which is approximately one hour south of the national monument. However, the closest airport in general is the Santa Fe Regional Airport. If you fly into either one of these locations, you will need to rent a car or plan to utilize a car service such as Uber or Lyft. There is no public transportation available to the monument.

Rock formation within the monument – do not climb on it!

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Even though logistical details are not the most fun things to research, be sure you know about them before your visit.

Opening Hours

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is temporarily closed to outside visitors due to COVID-19. The Bureau for Land Management (BLM) closed the monument to protect the people of the Pueblo de Cochiti from the spreading of the virus. During this closed period, they are also developing better protection plans for the future to reduce the size of crowds as well as to protect the resources around the national monument. One of their ideas is to create a reservation system in which you purchase a ticket for a specific time of day.

Entrance Fee for Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

There is a small entrance fee of $5 for a private vehicle to enter the national monument. Having visited myself, I would say the $5 is absolutely worth it. To be honest, I would have even paid $10 or $15 to enter. The rock formations are quite unique and beautiful, so I was more than happy to pay a small entrance fee, for I know that helps to maintain the area.

The entrance fee varies for groups over 25 individuals, schools, commercial tours, etc. Please check their website here for the most current information.

Up-close view of some of the tent rocks

3) The Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is in the morning. The monument can become quite busy on weekends, and thus it is best to arrive as early as possible in the morning in order to obtain a parking spot and avoid the larger crowds. Additionally, it is only open until the early evening, and thus you want to arrive in the early afternoon at the latest to ensure you have ample time to enjoy what the national monument has to offer. To truly avoid crowds, plan to visit on a weekday morning. 

The estimated time you need to set aside for visiting the national monument depends on what you would like to do while there. If you plan to complete only one hike and take pictures at scenic viewpoints, then plan for around two hours. However, if you would like to hike the Slot Canyon Trail, which is the most difficult trail, or a combination of multiple trails, plan for three hours or more. 

Rock formations in the distance

4) Quick Facts on Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

1. The tent rocks first formed around six to seven million years ago due to a volcanic eruption.

2. The tent rock formations stand anywhere from a few feet tall to 90 feet (~27 meters) tall.

3. No dogs, except service animals, are allowed inside the borders of the national monument.

4. There are three trails within the monument: (1) Cave Loop Trail (2) Slot Canyon Trail (3) Veterans Memorial Trail.

5. There are restrooms available as well as picnic facilities. 

Surrounding scenery at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

5) Background of the Tent Rocks

I always like to get to know a bit about a place and its history before I visit. Then when I do visit, I generally have a new appreciation for everything I see and experience.

Size of the Monument

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is 5,570 to 6,760 feet above sea level. This is approximately 1,700 to 2,050 meters above sea level.

However, in terms of actual height, the tent rocks range from a couple of feet to up to 90 feet (~27 meters) tall.

One of the larger rock formations within the monument

Creation of the Rock Formations

You might wonder how these tent shaped rock formations came to form many years ago, for you do not see them in abundance around the United States. They are the result of a volcanic eruption from approximately six or seven million years ago. The volcanic eruption produced what is called pyroclastic flow. While I am not a scientist myself, my best explanation of pyroclastic flow is a large mass of ash, lava, and gasses that erupted from a volcano and then flowed at intense speeds. The eruptions and pyroclastic flows resulted in deposits of pumice, tuff, and ash more than 1,000 feet (~305 meters) thick.

Additionally, the rocks have suffered some weathering and erosion over the years since they were formed. This weathering and erosion has resulted in the pointy structure of the rocks, giving them the name of tent rocks.

For other cool rock formations, head to Skyline Arch Trail in Arches National Park or Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos.

Naming of the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

The name of “tent rocks” obviously comes from the structure of the rocks. The name of Kasha-Katuwe derives from the Keresan language, which is the language of the people of the Pueblo de Cochiti. “Kasha-Katuwe” means “white cliffs” in Keresan.

Furthermore, it became a national monument in 2001 by President Bill Clinton. Therefore, it is now managed by the Bureau for Land Management (BLM).

Sun shining down on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

6) Wildlife in the Area

Thankfully, you do not have to worry about too many large predators in the area. Instead, most of the wildlife consists of birds and woodland creatures. Some of the birds you might see within the monument are red-tailed hawks and violet-green swallows. Furthermore, you might see rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, or wild turkeys running around. If you are a bit lucky, then you might catch a glimpse of an elk, mule deer, or coyote. 

A rock that looks a bit like a mushroom

7) Hiking and Walking Trails

Arguably the best way to explore the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is by hiking one of the three trails available. If you are looking for an easy trail that leads you right by some of the tent rocks, then opt for the Cave Loop Trail. For a moderate and more adventurous trail that leads you through some narrow portions of the slot canyons and to a scenic overlook, opt for the Slot Canyon Trail. Lastly, for an easy trail leading to a scenic overlook, opt for the Veterans Memorial Trail.

Are you an adventurous hiker? Then check out the three most difficult hikes in Zion National Park as well as the Ho Chi Minh Trail in San Diego.

Cave Loop Trail – Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

The Cave Loop Trail is a 1.2 mile (~two kilometer) hike with 183 feet (~56 meters) in elevation gain. Due to the fact the trail is just a little bit over a mile and only has slight elevation gain, it is considered to be an easy route. The main attraction on this trail is Cave Rock. Cave Rock was crafted by humans, though its origin dates back thousands of years ago to sometime between 1200 and 1600 CE. However, do not attempt to enter the cave by any means. Lastly, as you continue along the trail you will walk by mini tent rocks. There are a fair amount of these mini tent rocks, which range around a couple of feet to 20 feet (~six meters) in height.

The hike will take around 45 minutes to complete, and this includes some time built in for you to stop and take pictures at the Cave Rock as well as at any scenic points.   

Variety of tent rocks within the monument

My friends and I tackled this trail when we visited, and it was quite enjoyable. We found it to be an easy trail, which was perfect due to the fact we visited in August and had to deal with the summer heat. We especially enjoyed seeing the Cave Rock and trying to peer inside for any clues of its use in the past, such as soot on the roof from fires.

A room carved out within the rock formation

Slot Canyon Trail 

The Slot Canyon Trail is a 3.1 mile (~five kilometer) hike with 839 feet (~256 meters) in elevation gain. It is considered to be a moderate route and takes around one hour to one and a half hours to complete. To access this trail, you have to first begin hiking on the Cave Loop Trail. Then keep to the right to continue on to the Slot Canyon Trail, which is an out and back trail. That being said, you will hike to the end of the trail and then return back the same way you came to reconnect with the Cave Loop Trail. You can then finish out the loop. To make a long story short, the Slot Canyon Trail is just an out and back extension of the Cave Loop Trail.

Once you start along the Slot Canyon Trail, the path becomes a mix of sand and gravel. Additionally, there are a few more adventurous sections along this hike. You have to squeeze through some narrow portions of the trail with the tent rocks towering over you on each side. You also will need to duck under or hop over a few large rocks and boulders.

As you continue on, you leave behind walking through the canyon and instead begin to experience panoramic views as the trail gains elevation. At the top you are rewarded with beautiful views of the tent rocks and the surrounding landscape for miles.

Veterans Memorial Trail – Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

The Veterans Memorial Trail is a one mile (~1.6 kilometer) loop trail considered to be a very easy route. The trailhead is accessible from the main parking lot, and the trail then leads to a scenic overlook of the tent rocks and nearby canyons. You only need 20 minutes to complete this trail. 

Rock formation at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

8) Recommended Items to Bring for Hiking

1. Water bottle: I cannot emphasize enough that you NEED water while visiting the tent rocks, especially if you are hiking along one of the three trails mentioned above. I visited with a couple of friends in August, and let me tell you…it was hot. I drank an entire bottle of water while walking along the 1.2 mile (~1.9 kilometer) Cave Loop Trail. Consider a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste. They also keep your water cooler due to their insulation – bonus!

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy an attraction if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet. 

Hiking Items for Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful if you plan on hiking along any of the trails within the national monument. I did not own a pair of hiking shoes for a long time. However, I finally splurged and bought myself a pair before my Iceland road trip. Hiking shoes are generally not cheap, though I will say they are well worth the investment. They provide grip and traction to help you out while hiking as well as to keep you safe.

5. Hiking poles: While hiking poles might not be a necessity for one of the shorter trails, they will definitely come in handy on one of the more strenuous trails listed above. A little extra support can go a long way.

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

Visit Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico today!

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