Kasha-Katuwe National Monument, NM

Travel Guide

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
The Tent Rocks Canyon trail it is a hiking trail through a slot canyon with hoodos and striated rock formations. It's a nice climb, about 750 ft elevation increase in about 3 miles. Going though tunnels and up ledges. There are railroad ties to make steps to get to the top where you can see for miles! It is truly breathtaking!! #lifeatexpedia
Halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe on New Mexico’s Highway 25, hang a left (if you’re heading north) and be prepared for some unusual and magnificent rock formations courtesy of mother nature, the Bureau of Land Management, and the American Indian Pueblo de Cochiti.  

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock National Monument owes its remarkable geology to layers of volcanic rock and ash deposited by pyroclastic flow 6 to 7 million years ago from a volcanic explosion within the Jemez Volcanic Field; and to the gentle hand of time as wind and water smoothed the pumice, ash and tuff deposits.  

Bring your hiking boots along with your camera and see the tent rocks up close and personal for a $5 fee (per vehicle) via two separate trails that offer superb views of this natural wonder.   Hike to the top of the Canyon Trail for magnificent views of central New Mexico only possible from almost 7,000 feet above sea level.  

See more pictures and commentary of our hike via my travel blog at http://www.aplacecalledroam.com/home/hiking-the-stunning-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument .
New Mexico’s stunning Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock formations are the product of volcanic eruptions 6 to 7 million years ago.  Many of the pumice, ash and tuff deposits are over 1,000 feet thick.  Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a “pyroclastic flow.” 

 Over time, wind and water cut into these deposits creating canyons and arroyos, scooping holes in the rock and contouring the ends of small, inward ravines into smooth semi-circles.  
Two hiking trails (the Cave Loop Trail and the Canyon Trail) allow visitors amazing access to this National Monument.  We hiked the tougher Canyon Trail, a 1.5 mile trek up a narrow canyon involving a 630-foot climb to the mesa top, driven by the promise of fantastic views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia mountains, as well as the Rio Grande Valley.   We were not disappointed.  

Be sure to arrive early in the day (the monument opens at 8 am during winter months, 7 am during the summer) to avoid the crowds and the heat.   Bring plenty of water; the monument has no concessions, but does offer the basics in terms of facilities.  The nominal $5 fee per vehicle is returned to the site for monitoring, maintenance, and improvements.

See more pictures and commentary via my blog at http://www.aplacecalledroam.com/home/hiking-the-stunning-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument .
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