New Mexico’s best hike is open again after a 4-year closure
If you Google “best hikes in New Mexico,” one hike gets mentioned again and again: Tent Rocks, part of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.
But for over four years, from 2020 until November 2024, that hike was closed the public. Overcrowding, disrespectful behavior, illegal camping, litter and more led Cochiti Pueblo to close access to the trail.
For four years, New Mexicans couldn’t access New Mexico’s best hike — all due to the bad behavior of a few people who went off trail, left litter, and ignored trail closures. (While the Tent Rocks formation itself is federal land, the land surrounding it — and the only ways in — are owned and operated by Cochiti Pueblo.)
Finally, in November 2024, Cochiti Pueblo worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to re-open access to Tent Rocks. As part of the agreement, they launched a new online permit system to prevent overcrowding and encourage respectful behavior.
I hiked Tent Rocks for the first time in November 2024 and absolutely loved it. It just might be my favorite hike in New Mexico! I shared my experience on Instagram and received hundreds of questions about the new permit process. This post will answer all those questions and more.
If you choose to visit Tent Rocks, please follow all the rules and leave the area better than you found it. Let’s keep Tent Rocks open to the public this time!
How to Get a Permit for Tent Rocks in 2025
In 2025, you need two separate reservations to visit Tent Rocks. Visits are by reservation only, and you will be turned away if you don’t have a reservation ahead of time.
1. BLM Reservation: First, make a reservation on recreation.gov. A limited number of tickets are available each day, and tickets for all of 2025 are currently available (as of February 14, 2025.)
Each ticket is $5 per person (free for kids under 16). If you have an annual America the Beautiful Pass, you can waive this $5 fee for yourself and up to three additional visitors. However, you still need a reservation, and will still need to pay the $20/person Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access fee.
2. Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass: After your BLM reservation is secured, you must buy a separate pass from Cochiti Pueblo. That ticket is $20/person over age 16, $10/person 2-16 years old, and free for visitors under 2 years old. You’ll get a link to purchase the Tribal Access Pass after your BLM pass is confirmed.
On our visit, you were also able to purchase the Tribal Access Pass on-site at the Cochiti Pueblo Visitor Center. You can’t buy the BLM reservation in person, though, so it’s best to buy both passes ahead of time.
The America the Beautiful Pass cannot be used to waive the fees for a Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass, so the least that an adult will pay to visit Tent Rocks is $20.
| Entity | Fee for visitors over 16 years old | Fee for 2-16 year old | Fee for 0-2 year old |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLM Ticket Reservation – via Rec.gov | $5 per visitor | $0 per visitor | $0 per visitor |
| Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass – via Purple Pass (TR 92 Access Fee) | $20 per visitor | $10 per visitor | $0 per visitor |
Importantly, Tent Rocks reservations are only available Thursday though Monday, February 1 – December 13 2025. Tent Rocks is also closed on the following days:
Friday before Easter
Saturday before Easter
Easter Sunday
Monday after Easter
May 3
July 13 and 14
July 25
Nov. 1
Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 (seasonal closure)
As of February 2025, there are still slots available for almost all days of 2025, but those will likely fill up quickly. If you want to go this year, I recommend booking as soon as possible!
What’s the Best Hike to do at Tent Rocks?
There are two main hikes at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument: the Cave Loop Trail and the Canyon Trail. For the best of both worlds, I recommend taking the Canyon Trail all the way up to the top, then taking the Cave Loop Trail back. Here’s that option on AllTrails.
The total distance of my recommended route is 3.3 miles with 823 elevation gain: not easy, but not very hard either! There are a few places where you’ll want to use your hands to scramble up rocks, but you don’t need to be a climber.
On the 1.5-mile hike up the Canyon Trail, you’ll enter a gorgeous slot canyon, followed by a steep climb up to the top of the mesa. Looking down on the hoodoos you were just looking up at and down into the narrow canyon walls you just hiked through is an incredible experience!
While the Canyon Trail trail is steep in sections, the switchbacks make it manageable. You don’t have to be in amazing shape — just take it slow.
On a clear day, which is most days in northern New Mexico, you’ll be able to see many mountain ranges, including the Sangre de Cristos near Santa Fe, the Jemez mountains near Los Alamos, and the Sandia mountains near Albuquerque.
Then, on your way back down, take the Cave Loop Trail back to the parking lot. This only adds a short .2 mile extra to your original route, but takes you by different scenery for the last stretch of the hike. On the Cave Loop Trail, you’ll pass a cave (hence the name) or cavate, a hand-hewn living area carved into the volcanic rock.
While you can’t enter the cave itself like you can in nearby Bandelier National Monument, it’s still cool to see!
How to get to Tent Rocks from Albuquerque
All visitors must first check in at the Cochiti Pueblo Visitor Center, which is on Google Maps. Navigate there, not to the monument itself.
From Albuquerque, take I-25 North and take exit 259 for Santo Domingo/Cochiti Lake Recreation Area, then get on NM-22. When you see Cochiti Visitor Center, turn right.
After you arrive at the Cochiti Pueblo Visitor Center and check in, you’ll wait for a pilot car to guide you to Tent Rocks itself.
Check in begins no earlier than 7:45 a.m. with pilot vehicles leading visitors into the Monument starting at 8:00 a.m. The last pilot car will leave the Cochiti Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m.
What is a “tent rock”?
Volcanic eruptions + time = tent rocks!
Each cone-shaped hoodoo or “tent rock” is the result of volcanic eruptions 6-7 million years ago, which left 1,000-foot thick tuff deposits on the Pajarito Plateau.
Millions of years of erosion helped shape the tent rocks, with harder stone at the top protecting the softer stone below.
The tallest formations are over 90 feet tall!
What should I bring to hike Tent Rocks?
Tent Rocks is in a remote, rural area of New Mexico, with no access to food, restaurants, or water nearby. Pack like you’ll be gone all day, with more water and snacks than you think you’ll need!
I recommend packing:
• At least 1 liter of water per person- no water is available at the monument
• Snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy on the trail, at the top or at the picnic tables in the parking lot
• Sunscreen – there is no shade on the trail
• Sunglasses
• Hiking poles (optional) and ice spikes if you’re hiking in winter or early spring, as there may be ice on the trail
• Layers, including a waterproof layer. Even in the desert, storms can hit at any moment, especially during the summer monsoon season.
• Money for souvenirs – there’s a small Tent Rocks-themed gift shop at Cochiti Visitor Center
When do Tent Rocks permits go on sale?
As of February 2025, all permits for the rest of 2025 are currently available. Tickets will likely sell out, especially on weekends and school breaks, so grab your tickets in advance while you can.
What time should I arrive at Tent Rocks?
Check in begins no earlier than 7:45 a.m., and the last pilot car will leave the Cochiti Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. All visitors must exit the monument by 4:00 p.m, and Cochiti Pueblo is strict about that deadline: by 3:00p.m., they start turning people back towards the parking lot and will not allow you to continue hiking up.
The BLM recommends that to do the full hike, you should arrive at the Cochiti Pueblo Visitor Center no later than 1p.m.
However, if you want to hike slowly and enjoy the scenery, I recommend arriving no later than 11a.m., or even earlier, to get your full $25 worth.
Is camping allowed?
No, there is no camping allowed at Tent Rocks — despite having “tent” in the name! 🙂 But at only 1.5 hours from Albuquerque, it’s the perfect distance for a day trip.
If you do prefer to camp nearby, Cochiti Campground at Cochiti Lake is only 10 minutes away! ($15/night for non-electric campsites and $20/night for electric sites).
Are dogs allowed?
No, dogs are not allowed at Tent Rocks. (Service dogs trained to assist with a specific disability are the exception. Emotional support animals are not allowed.)
Please respect the rules and leave your pup at home!
Are there bathrooms available?
Yes! There are pit toilets (no flush) available at the trailhead, near the parking lot and picnic tables. There are no toilets on the trail, however, so use the facilities before you start your hike.
Can I fly my drone?
No, drones are not allowed at the Tent Rocks formation or anywhere inside Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.
The trail goes above the hoodoos, though, so you can still get great views of the formation (like this!) from above.
Can I climb a Tent Rock (hoodoo)?
No, climbing the rocks is prohibited. The rocks are made of crumbly sandstone, so the formations are fragile and susceptible to damage if people climb on top.
Please respect the rules and stay on trail so Tent Rocks can remain open to the public!
Ugh, $25 a person?! Is Tent Rocks really worth it?
Yes, it’s a pricey hike, especially compared to most (free) hikes in New Mexico — but Tent Rocks it’s definitely worth doing at least once! There’s nowhere else in New Mexico with such an impressive collection of hoodoos in such a small area. In fact, there are only a couple places like it in the world!
To save a few bucks, you can get an annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year) which covers you and three additional visitors. That means you and three friends can save $5 each! However, you all still need the $20/person Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass, so it’s still an expensive hike.
I’m glad I hiked Tent Rocks, but because of the cost and hassle of booking a ticket I won’t be doing this hike very often. I’m just happy it’s open again after such a long hiatus!
Is Tent Rocks visible from the road?
No, you can’t see any of the Tent Rocks formation from the road or parking lot. If you don’t have a reservation to do the hike, it’s not worth making the trip.
What’s the best time of year to hike Tent Rocks?
Tent Rocks is beautiful year-round, but the best times to hike are in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and there is no snow on the ground. I hiked it in late November and the weather was perfect: 50s in the middle of the day, bright and clear.
The summer heat at Tent Rocks can be brutal, with temperatures in the 90s or higher. There is no shade at all on the trail, so be prepared for intense sun and pack plenty of water for everyone in your group. Summer monsoons can also flood the trail and cause dangerous lightning strikes.
Winter weather at Tent Rocks is often sunny and warm, but can also be below freezing and snowy. After a snowstorm, the trail can get ice-packed and dangerous.
Ready to hike Tent Rocks?
Even though I grew up in New Mexico, I only hiked Tent Rocks for the first time in November 2024. Now, it’s one of my favorite hikes in the state!
If you choose to visit Tent Rocks, please follow all the rules and leave the area better than you found it. Let’s keep Tent Rocks open to the public this time!
