Slot Canyon Trail

This 3-mile out-and-back provides from ever-changing views, geological formations, and even a short slot canyon on the way to the vista. Hikers will start off on the Cave Loop Trail and hike a half-mile to the intersection of the Slot Canyon Trail. Leaving the trailhead, hikers are immediately greeted with the tent rocks for which Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is named.

At the junction of the Cave Loop Trail and the Slot Canyon Trail, hikers will stay to the right to start on the mile-long Slot Canyon Trail. Just beyond the trail junction is a quarter-mile slot canyon that is easy to navigate through. After the slot canyon the trail starts to rapidly ascend to a final vista over the Sandia Crest to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north.  

The return to the trailhead descends from the vista, and hikers are greeted by the tent rocks that they had their back to on the way to the vista. Hikers can go right at the junction with the Cave Loop Trail if they want to add some more miles on their hike, or stay to the left and return the way they came.