New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment, known for its dramatic and diverse scenery, from mountainous peaks to desert expanses. It’s a hiker’s paradise, with plenty of breathtaking landscape to explore.
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One of the most popular hikes is at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located in the backroads between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. After a four-year closure, it is open once again, though by reservation only with a two-tiered fee structure. Visitors need to purchase both a Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass and a Bureau of Land Management Ticket, and check in at the Cochiti Visitor Center prior to entry into the Monument. You’ll then follow a pilot vehicle in your own car to the entry booth, before heading onward to the parking lot. The last pilot car leaves the Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. and all visitors must depart the Monument by 4:00 p.m.
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Kasha-Katuwe, which means “white cliffs,” is on Cochiti Pueblo land and has been considered sacred and significant to the ancestral pueblo people for thousands of years. Descendants of this pueblo, who still reside in the surrounding area, continue to hold traditional cultural practices here.
This special place is beloved for its unique, hoodoo sandstone formations. These geological formations appear as cone-shaped rocks with boulder-sized caps precariously perched on them like hats. They vary in height from a few feet to a towering 90 feet. Interspersed among these weirdly wonderful sentinels are various canyons and arroyos. This naturally occurring landscape was caused by volcanic eruptions and water and wind erosion over millions of years.
To explore this lunar-esque terrain, you’ll follow the National Recreational Trail, which contains two segments. Both begin at the designated monument parking area. The Cave Loop is an easy 1.2-mile walk that follows along the base of the tent rocks. You can admire the formations from below, while noting the striations in the rocks and their beige and pink colors. There’s also a human-formed cave to check out, too. Portions of this path are ADA accessible.
For a more in-depth experience, take the 1.5-mile out and back Canyon Trail. It first meanders through an arroyo with lovely old piñon and ponderosa pine trees dotting the landscape. The sheer, red rock canyon walls rise up above you on either side, giving you that “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” sensation.
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Soon, the trail narrows and begins to twist and turn through a slot canyon. Some of the channels or drainageways are one-person wide and there are a few areas that require some scrambling, making you feel a bit like Indiana Jones.
When you exit the slot canyon, the terrain widens and you’ll get a more up-close and personal view of the massive hoodoos. Then you’re in for a 630-foot climb, as you head up to the mesa. Parts of the route are steep and you might need your hands and feet to navigate the large rocks. As you ascend, the views become even more spectacular and photo opps abound.
Once you reach the mesa top, walk along the path to the very end, where you can sit and take in the 360-degree vistas. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez and Sandia mountains and the expansive Rio Grande Valley.
When you’re ready to return, retrace the route back to the trailhead parking lot. If it’s more views you want, drive an additional 3.5 miles to the Veterans’ Memorial Scenic Overlook. An easy 1-mile loop trail invites you to enjoy a picturesque panorama of Peralta Canyon and the Jemez Mountain peaks.
The national monument is located about 35 miles from Santa Fe. Learn more at https://www.blm.gov/visit/kktr.