Tent Rocks Slot Canyon Hike
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument HIGHLIGHTS: A National Recreation Trail follows a slot canyon to overlooks with great views. I went on a hike at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico. This video was captured with my GoPro Hero3 video camera in a first person view.
Sarah & Becky heading into the slot canyon at Tent Rocks National Monument
Back in July I wrote a post on my All-time Top 5 Favorite Hikes. This past weekend I got to revisit one of the best: Tent Rocks National Monument near Cochiti Pueblo.
This hike, less than an hour south of Santa Fe, has everything you could want in a desert trek: slot canyons, wicked rock formations and incredible views. The first half of the trail winds through a slot canyon so narrow you can touch the walls on either side, then the canyon opens up beneath the 90-foot conical hoodoos that give this National Monument its name. Finally, the trail switchbacks up to the top of the mesa to an overlook of the slot canyon and tent rocks as well as sweeping views of the Rio Grande River Valley to the east and the Jemez Mountains to the west.
This amazing place is a short drive from Cerrillos. I used to frequent Tent Rocks a lot more often back when the monument still allowed dogs. Since they closed it to pets in 2010, I’ve been back a handful of times to show it off to out of town friends. This trip I was in the company of Becky, who I brought here once before, and Sarah, who was here for the weekend on her first trip to New Mexico.
The slot canyons and hoodoos at Tent Rocks are formed from volcanic ash that blanketed this region of New Mexico in a series of explosive pyroclastic eruptions around 7 million years ago and then again between 1.6 and 1.25 million years ago. Over time the ash hardened into two formations: the older, finer Peralta tuff and younger, coarser Cochiti formations.
Boulder wedged in the slot canyon
Tent Rock’s volcanic tuff is quite crumbly and readily carved by wind, water and people. Differential weathering of the layers has produced the distinctive pointy hoodoos as well as the sinuous slot canyon. The 4-mile round trip hike also boasts a cave dwelling similar to the famous cliff caveats at Bandelier National Monument, just northwest of here. The caveats were carved by hand by the Ancestral Pueblo People between 1150 and 1600.
Now that I’ve gotten another look at Tent Rocks, I’ll probably be going back for more. I love hiking with the dogs, but some places are worth seeing, even if it means going without them!
Overlooking Tent Rocks
Added by The Outbound Collective
This 3-mile hike with minimal elevation gain lets you explore Incredible desert hoodoos and beautiful slot canyons. Take in expansive views from the mesa top.
Hiking at Tent Rocks is a must-do for anyone in the northern New Mexico area. It's an accessible trail that gives you incredible rewards with little effort. The cone-shaped 'tent rocks' are the result of erosion following a volcanic explosion 6-7 million years ago, making for some incredible and unusual hoodoo formations.
The trail starts out at a well-marked parking lot. There are restrooms and picnic tables here should you need them. There are two trails - a shorter loop that stays at the base of the rocks and a longer one-way route that will end with huge views from the mesa top over Tent Rocks and the surrounding area. To take this route, stick to your right and follow the clearly marked signs.
The trail will meander through an arroyo with beautiful old trees dotting the landscape here and there, with the canyon walls rising up above you on either side. You'll soon come to a narrowing of the trail where it twists and turns through the narrow slot canyon. Be very mindful of thunderstorms when hiking in monsoon season (mid-June to mid-September) and do not hike if there is any danger of flash floods in the slot canyon. Exiting the slot canyon the area will open up more and you'll get closer to some massive hoodoos. The trail starts to climb from here for a short while until you reach the mesa top, dotted with gnarled old juniper trees.
Take a break and enjoy the view up here before heading back the way you came. If you're heading north to Santa Fe, stop by Second Street Brewery for a great beer and green chile cheeseburger.
Getting there: From Santa Fe, take the Cochiti Pueblo Exit 264 off I-25 onto NM 16. Turn right off NM 16 onto NM 22, and follow the signs to Cochiti Pueblo and the National Monument. The parking lot is on your right about five miles after the fee station. Note that this is a day use only site and the gate closes at 4pm during winter and 6pm during summer.
This adventure was featured in The Outbound's Santa Fe County is Adventure True - Summer Lookbook 2019
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Join the communityReviews
Jenna Mulligan
🥇Top Contributor
6 months ago
slot canyons
I've been driving between Durango and Albuquerque for years, and had heard great things about this hike. I finally detoured for it and it was worth the hype - the tent rocks are stunners but my favorite section of the trail was the slot canyon
5.0
Isabella Whalen
12 months ago
Breathtaking views! Unlike anything
I went on a weekday, and wasn’t too busy. Apparently it gets to be a two hour wait just to park, so plan accordingly! Such unique formations, truly unlike anything I’ve seen before. Felt like I was teleported to another planet. Sweeping views at the summit of the entire surrounding area are worth the climb.
5.0
Brittney Dennisson
over 1 year ago
Gorgeous
Easy hike and a fun run if you need a challenge! Beautiful natural rock monuments. Locals leave zen rock stacks or cairns as they hike up and down the trail.
5.0
Madison Sankovitz
Explorer🥇Top Contributor
over 2 years ago
Beautiful Slot Canyons
This 3-mile hike with minimal elevation gain let me explore an incredible desert landscape and beautiful slot canyons. I took in expansive views from the mesa top.
5.0
Haley Churchill
🥉Contributor
over 2 years ago
Beautiful Tent Rocks
Tent Rocks Slot Canyon Hikes
This was such a beautiful hike, definitely doable at any level. Pro Tip: bring at least 72 ounces of water with you on this 3 mile hike. Hiking in the heat catches up to you, but so worth it.
5.0
Tent Rocks Slot Canyon Hike Grand Canyon
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Tent Rocks Slot Canyon Hike Rim
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