On Tuesday we drove just a few miles down the road to the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.  The 4,645 acre Park was established in 2001 after being designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  

In order to access the Park you need to drive through the Pueblo de Cochiti Reservation.  Kasha-Katuwe means “white cliffs” in the native language of the Pueblos.  There is evidence of human occupation in the area for over 4,000 years with the first Pueblos in the 14th and 15th centuries. The cone or tent shaped rock formations were created 6 to 7 million years ago from volcanic eruptions of the Jemez volcano that left pumice, ash and volcanic rock over 1,000 feet thick.  The tent rock shapes can be up to 90 feet tall.  

Here we hiked two trails.  The first trail, the Slot Canyon Trail, was a difficult trail involving some difficult scrambling over rocks and rock climbing.  
I really enjoyed walking in the Slot Canyon but at one point I just didn’t have enough upper body strength and had to give up and let Bill go ahead while I waited.

The second trail, the Cave Loop Trail was a shorter and easier trail.  

Bill found a snakeskin but luckily not the owner!  

We met a very nice couple from Ohio on the trail and enjoyed talking with them along the way.  Before heading home we drove to the Veterans’ Memorial Scenic Overlook with a beautiful view of the picturesque Peralta Canyon and Jemez Mountain peaks.

Next up: Albuquerque and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.