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Things to do in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks in New Mexico

Have you ever heard of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks? Neither did we until we visited New Mexico. Kasha-Katuwe means “white cliffs” in the nearby Pueblo de Cochiti people’s traditional Keresan language. Here are things to do in Kasha Katuwe Ten Rocks National Monument.

kasha-katuwe sign

The Native Americans considered this a special place. We were happy we did this detour into this otherworldly landscape.

Getting There

Located 35 miles(56 km) from Santa Fe and 52 miles (84 km) from Albuquerque, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks became a National Monument in 2001 “to protect its geologic, scenic and cultural values”.

There is a vast geologic process that formed and shaped these unique rock formations into cones and tents of all sizes.

Kasha-katuwe Tent rocks

Rock Formations

Pictures don’t do them any justice. Like many of the National Parks we’ve visited, seeing these for the first time made us gasp in awe.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks tree pose

A volcanic eruption 6 to 7 million years ago produced these rock formations. The leftover white and silvery-gray pumice and ash formed an igneous rock called tuff. The fragments of light gray to red were results of another igneous rock called rhyolite from other volcanic eruptions.

kasha-Katuwe Tent rocks

Layers of volcanic material that have formed over the years show the various colors of grey, beige and hints of pink colored rocks on the cliffs. The rock layers were a mixture of volcanic activity and wind and water erosion.

Kasha-katuwe rock layers

The Tent Rock Formations

Some of the tent rocks had boulder caps protecting the softer pumice and tuff below it from wearing away. It was an amazing and surprising landscape.

kasha-katuwe boulder caps

There were a lot of whimsical shapes that would make even Dr. Seuss proud. We were baffled at these naturally sculpted perfect cone shapes.

Kasha-Katuwe boulder caps

Some of them precariously balanced and look about ready to topple over.

Kasha-katuwe balance rock

These deposits can be over 1,000 feet thick. The tent rocks are also known as hoodoos but look very different from the ones we’ve seen at Bryce Canyon National Park.

Kasha-Katuwe tent rocks

The Trails

Humans have inhabited this area for 4,000 years from archaeological recordings. Native Americans settled here in the 14th and 15th centuries. They close the park due to Pueblo de Cochiti tribal activities. The Pueblo and Tribal Land are located right outside the park.

Kasha-katuwe tent rocks

We got there around 10 AM on a Sunday morning and we had the trail to ourselves. It was wonderful to stand there and listen to the sounds of nature and hike in solitude.

The trails weren’t paved and made mostly of gravel and sand. There were make-shift benches along the way for resting. The rattlesnake warning signs were enough to make my inquisitive kids stay on the trails and very close to us.

Kasha-Katuwe tent rocks trail

Cave Loop Trail

We hiked the fairly easy 1.2 mile (1.93 km) Cave Loop Trail. There is also the Slot Canyon Trail which is 1.3 miles (2.09 km) one way through a narrow canyon and involved a steep climb. We had other plans in Santa Fe that day so we regrettably passed on the canyon and enjoying a scenic view from the top.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent rocks

We passed a variety of shrubs, desert plants and blooming cacti along the way.

Kasha-katuwe blooming cacti

One of the highlights for my kids was spotting this Western Scrub-Jay (according to our bird guide). We heard its noise long before we saw it. It was also the only wildlife we saw inside the park.

Kasha-Katuwe blue bird

The end of the trail was a human-formed cave or caveats (cave-ate) carved into the volcanic rocks.  Archaeologists believe this was carved by using sticks or sharp stones. Soot from fires could be seen inside the cave.

Kasha-katuwe cave

We liked how this trail gets visitors close enough to see the tent rocks and marvel at their size. The tent rocks’ height are from a few feet to 90 feet (27 m).

Kasha-Katuwe tent Rocks lookup

We enjoyed our hike more due to the gentle breeze and the sun shining. It was another good reason to visit in the off-season.

Kasha-Katuwe tent rocks

These trails get crowded and temperatures sometimes soar to over 100 degrees during the summer.

Kasha-Katuwe tree

We passed by one of these tent rocks on the trail and couldn’t resist doing this shot.

Kasha-katuwe pushing tent rock

The end of the trail looks out into a few tent rocks on the ground and away from the cliff face. This looked like a campground of cemented tents.

Kasha-Katuwe tent rocks ground

The Land of Enchantment

New Mexico’s nickname is the Land of Enchantment. It was amazing places like this that showed why it clearly earned its well-deserved name. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks was an unexpected treat.

This beautiful and lesser known park deserves a visit if you’re ever in this area. We loved our visit and would love to return to do the trail we missed.

Kasha-Katuwe tent rocks

 Tips for Visiting Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks

  •  Admission: Private Vehicles – $5; Free with America the Beautiful Parks Pass.
  • Hours: November – mid-March (8 AM – 5 PM); mid-March – October (7 AM – 7 PM)
  • Since it’s a small park, there was no visitor’s center or Junior Ranger activities for the kids. Restrooms and picnic tables at the parking area.
  • No drinking water available so bring a lot of water. The nearest food, water and gas is 15 minutes away at Cochiti Lake.
  • No dogs are allowed on the trails.
  • Bring binoculars to see the birds up close.
  • Get the Plant and Bird Guide before the hike from one of the kiosks. It’s a great way for the kids to be involved with the hike. My kids loved trying to match the plants along the way and guess the few birds we saw flying.
  • Keep your eyes out for a few buffalo along the Rio Grande River before turning on the main road to the park.
Kasha- Katuwe buffalo

*Have you visited and explored the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks? Would you make a detour?


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31 thoughts on “Things to do in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks in New Mexico”

  1. Hi Mary,
    Wow, another beautiful sculptures of nature. I haven’t heard of the tent rocks. I cant believe how close it is to Santa Fe. I was just there for work not too long ago. It could have been an easy side trip. Such a pleasant hike to do with kids. I love their fun shot lifting a tent rock. I look forward to your next installment on New Mexico. It’s a place I would love to explore myself.

    1. Thank you Marisol! It was a surreal place. I hope you get to visit the tent rocks on your next trip to Santa Fe. I’m sure you’d love the hike but be sure to do the Slot Canyon trail. I have more New Mexico posts coming up.

  2. I love these photos and landscapes, so beautiful ! I have never been to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks but would most definitely make a detour for it. They indeed look like cemented tents. Quite some impressive sculptured rocks to see there.

  3. I’d never even heard of these tent rocks -and I thought I had a pretty good idea about what there was to see in New Mexico. Looks well worth a trip and what a treat to have the place to yourselves. I can’t imagine visiting when the thermometer registers 100F.

  4. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    I love seeing the different colored layers in rock! Those tent rocks are really interesting. You’ve made me want to visit this National Park.

  5. How wild to see buffalo there. I guess I hadn’t expected New Mexico to have buffalo, I always think of South Dakota. The western scrub jay pictures are beautiful! We just did a drive thru last time I was in New Mexico. I hope to be able to get back there again and actually do some sightseeing. Would love to visit this national monument while there :).

  6. The rock formations are incredible – It is really amazing what Mother Nature can do! Thanks for the introduction to another great destination!

  7. Wow! Thank you for the introduction to this cool park. It reminds me of rock formations we have seen in Taiwan and Turkey. Very otherworldly!

    1. Thanks Cheryl! We use my husband’s DSLR Nikon D7000. He’s got some fancy lens with it too. My daughter uses an old point and shoot but I don’t think I published those photos :) Have a great weekend!

  8. I have never even heard of K-K Tent Rocks National Monument. Thanks for introducing me to it since it looks like a very interesting geological site. I’d love to hike a slot canyon sometime. Those pictures of the scrub-jay are wonderful. Great photography!

  9. Awe-inspiring photos. Just moved to New Mexico a few months ago and now I want to go see these. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Thanks Crystie! We loved our visit to New Mexico! There are so many great things to do there and loved the New Mexican cuisine. I hope you’re enjoying it all. Stay tuned for more New Mexico posts :)

  10. We had a great time exploring the Tent Rocks! The views at the top of the trail were amazing! Thanks for sharing. Check out our hike here – jetlaggedinparadise.com/the-blog/kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument

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