The Slot Canyon Trail is most definitely not wheelchair accessible. Show up early in the day. We showed up at 7:15 am, hiked the Cave Loop Trail first, and then the Slot Canyon Trail and ran into maybe 4 other people on the way up. But on the way back down, at around 9:30 am, the trail was already filled with 4-5 people every 10 yards. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (Monument), including the Slot Canyon, Cave Loop, and Veterans' Memorial Loop Trail and the Veterans' Memorial Scenic Overlook, will be closed to visitors on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The landscape at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, with its sandstone spires and fascinating slot canyons, can only be described as otherworldly. These spires, also known as hoodoos, are a religious site of the Cochiti Pueblo. With awe and reverence, you can explore the formations via the Tent Rocks Slot Canyon and Cave Loop.
The Southwest is full of strange surprises. You don't need mescaline to experience otherworldly visions. The land provides that in spades — as long as you know where to look.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in northwest New Mexico is one of the more peculiar landscapes I've encountered in my travels. It feels foreign and alien, like you're walking on the surface of another planet. But instead of being unnerving, the place is downright captivating as it pulls you farther into its curious crevices. There's only one other place in the world I'm aware of that has the 'fairy chimney' rock formations similar to Kasha-Katuwe (which means 'white cliffs' in the Keresan language of the Pueblo), and you have to travel to Turkey to find it.
The national monument feels remote, but it's easily accessible at just 44 miles from Santa Fe and 58 miles from Albuquerque. It'd be easy to spend the morning and early afternoon hiking the trails of the park and then hitting the road for an evening in the city. I camped at nearby Tetilla Peak Recreation Area (27 miles away) on a Friday night in early May and woke up with the sun to beat the Saturday crowd. And trust me, there will most likely be crowds if it's a nice weekend in the spring or summer. The parking lot is small and fills up quickly. The secret is apparently out on this place.
Tent Rocks Slot Canyon And Cave Loop 1604
The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (Monument), including the Slot Canyon, Cave Loop, and Veterans' Memorial Loop Trail and the Veterans' Memorial Scenic Overlook, will be closed to visitors on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
In addition, beginning November 1, and continuing through March 10, the Monument is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with gates closed to entry at 4:00 p.m.
The Monument begins closing procedures at 3:00 p.m. by closing the Veterans' Memorial Scenic Overlook, and continues by closing the Slot Canyon trail starting from the top of the Trail at 3:30 p.m. The Cave Loop Trail closes at the junction of the Slot Canyon and Cave Loop Trailhead starting at 4:00 p.m.
Monument Rangers ensure all visitors safely arrive to the main parking area no later than 4:30 p.m. in preparation for closure no later than 5:00 p.m. All visitors must exit no later than 5:00 p.m.
Currently, dogs are not allowed past the fee booth, although service animals are welcome.
For more information on the Monument, please call the BLM at 505-331-6259.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in the 11 Western states and Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.
In addition, beginning November 1, and continuing through March 10, the Monument is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with gates closed to entry at 4:00 p.m.
The Monument begins closing procedures at 3:00 p.m. by closing the Veterans' Memorial Scenic Overlook, and continues by closing the Slot Canyon trail starting from the top of the Trail at 3:30 p.m. The Cave Loop Trail closes at the junction of the Slot Canyon and Cave Loop Trailhead starting at 4:00 p.m.
Monument Rangers ensure all visitors safely arrive to the main parking area no later than 4:30 p.m. in preparation for closure no later than 5:00 p.m. All visitors must exit no later than 5:00 p.m.
Currently, dogs are not allowed past the fee booth, although service animals are welcome.
For more information on the Monument, please call the BLM at 505-331-6259.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in the 11 Western states and Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.
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Tent Rocks Slot Canyon And Cave Loop Campground
