Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument has reopened, and it makes for an epic family hike! The national monument, on Cochiti Pueblo land, closed in Spring of 2020 due to Covid-19 and overcrowding concerns. It opened again last month after years of negotiations and planning between the Pueblo and the federal government.
The monument features a slot canyon, stunning tent rocks, and a small human-formed cave. The magnificent region has been significant to the ancestral pueblo people for thousands of years.
Just about an hour from Albuquerque, it’s another amazing family-friendly hike to add to your list.
The Slot Canyon and Cave Loop trails are about 3.5 miles total. The route is considered moderate since it requires some ducking and scrambling and gains several hundred feet in elevation. My 5 and 6-year-olds loved the adventure!
Slot Canyon Trail
The trail begins at a parking area with several pit toilets and shaded picnic tables. It snakes through a few trees before quickly reaching the canyon entrance. Now begins the adventure!
The sandy path slips over rocks, under a boulder, and between the cool canyon walls. Even my 6-year-old kept exclaiming how amazing the trail was!
Eventually, the path widens into fantastic views of the namesake tent rocks, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
Next, comes the climb! The path ascends the canyon wall to a jaw-dropping view of the region. My kids occasionally required a boost over a steep step, but otherwise hiked independently and with only a few complaints.
The trail at the top of the mesa has a few steep drop-offs, but nothing our elementary schoolers couldn’t handle with a few reminders to walk carefully.
The path ends on top of the mesa, and hikers then descend back down and through the canyon again. The views on the return were just as breathtaking as the ascent!
Cave Loop Trail
About half a mile from the parking lot is a side trail, the 0.7-mile Cave Loop. The route is easy with occasional shade. It winds past a small human-formed cave and through a few more epic rock formations before returning to the parking lot.
The sacred landscape is a great conversation starter for reminding kids to treat others’ lands with reverence and care, to leave nothing behind, and take only photos.
Humans are thought to have settled near the monument around 5,500 B.C.E., growing to large ancestral pueblos by the 1400s. Their descendants, including the Cochiti Pueblo, still reside near the monument today and conduct sacred, traditional cultural practices at Kasha-Katuwe.
But by 2020, over-visitation at the monument negatively impacted the fragile landscape and the surrounding Pueblo community. The announcement of the new agreement between the Pueblo and the federal government pledges to honor that tribal sovereignty, granting the Pueblo greater control over how their lands will be treated and ensuring the site is protected for years to come while visitors’ funds directly benefit the local community.
Entering the monument requires a reservation via recreation.gov and a tribal access pass. National Park interagency passes (like the America the Beautiful pass) can cover the cost of the federal fee, but a reservation is still needed. All visitors also need Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access passes, which are $10 per child and $20 per adult.
The monument will close mid-December through January and will reopen in February. Pets are not allowed, except service animals.
Be sure to check the monument website before visiting for the latest information about visiting hours, passes, and conditions.
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