Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico

When traveling, we always like to check the National Park Service website for the full list of attractions. No matter what they are and whether they are famous or not, they probably are worth a stop.

Such is the case for the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock National Monument in New Mexico. If you've heard of it and you don't live relatively close to it, you know your national parks.

The monument is located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, a handful of miles west of Interstate 25. Most of the land within the 4,645 acres is pretty typical of the region. But after paying a fee at the entry point and driving five miles to a trailhead, you can see what the fuss is about.

Those rocks really do look like tents, and there are a bunch of them.

The NPS brochure says a volcanic eruption formed them millions of years ago, and that's good enough for me. Some of the rocks are 90 feet tall. The Cave Loop Trail gives you an up-close look at the tent rocks as well as the while cliffs, and it's easy to navigate. The more athletic types can add another mile to the hike, with a route that heads steeply into the mountains. It's a 3.5-mile drive from this trailhead to the Veterans Memorial Scenic Overlook, with views of canyons, mountains and wilderness.

The entry fee for vehicles is only $5. Bring your own drinking water - a must when hiking at this altitude. With that out of the way, let's go for a hike:



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