The NRT trail has two sections; the cave loop trail (1.2 miles) which stays on the valley floor and the Slot Canyon trail (1.0 mile) that winds through a narrow canyon into a box canyon and then ascends to a scenic overlook on top of the mesa. This is a popular hike so Parking at the trailhead is limited. The 1.5 mile (one-way) Slot Canyon Trail is rather more interesting, one of the best short trails in the state. This branches off the Cave route and joins a stony wash that soon narrows to a proper slot canyon through the tuff.
/scenic-view-of-rocky-mountains-at-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument-against-clear-blue-sky-678429531-77ce3d98b6f249e8951859e5f472e1cf.jpg "Tent rocks slot canyon and cave loop map")
The NRT trail has two sections; the cave loop trail (1.2 miles) which stays on the valley floor and the Slot Canyon trail (1.0 mile) that winds through a narrow canyon into a box canyon and then ascends to a scenic overlook on top of the mesa. This is a popular hike so Parking at the trailhead is limited. The 1.5 mile (one-way) Slot Canyon Trail is rather more interesting, one of the best short trails in the state. This branches off the Cave route and joins a stony wash that soon narrows to a proper slot canyon through the tuff.
Slot Canyon Trail
Tent Rocks Slot Canyon And Cave Loop 1604
The 1.5 mile (one-way) Slot Canyon Trail is rather more interesting, one of the best short trails in the state. This branches off the Cave route and joins a stony wash that soon narrows to a proper slot canyon through the tuff. The ravine has curvy walls just a few feet apart but many feet deep, long, shady passageways through generally smooth rocks containing embedded pebbles, and just a few obstructions caused by dryfalls and chokestones; the maximum height is about three feet. The pretty slot opens out quite suddenly after a quarter of a mile, to a still narrow gorge that contains a few tall trees growing in the streambed, after which the canyon ascends more steeply, through another brief narrow part then climbs even more sharply to the top of the plateau, where it splits into several paths that lead to viewpoints looking out over the Tent Rock formations, down Peralta Canyon and across to the far away Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains. The total elevation gain is 640 feet. The plateau is more sparsely vegetated than the valley floor, bearing grasses, wildflowers and manzanita bushes. The most spectacular rocks are all around the last part of the trail, where they rise up to 90 feet, pure white, smoothly tapering and altogether very impressive. The path is popular, and despite the above average difficulty, most people manage to get to the end.Tent Rocks Slot Canyon And Cave Loop Map
