Tent Rocks monument near Albuquerque remains closed three years after pandemic

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument near Albuquerque remains closed three years after pandemic shutdowns began. Officials have not established a timeline to allow the public back inside the site. The area sits on federal land managed alongside Cochiti Pueblo.

The Bureau of Land Management manages the site in cooperation with Pueblo de Cochiti. Cochiti Pueblo remains closed under COVID-19 rules. That closure blocks road access.

The monument shut down in 2020. Jamie Garcia is an outdoor recreation planner with the BLM. Garcia said the agency meets regularly with tribal leaders.

“We have been in discussions about what reopening looks like,” Garcia said.

Federal officials are working on problems tied to high crowd sizes and staffing shortages. The agency updated its website statement on April 28. Officials want more protection for natural resources.

“We’ve had such high recreation use and we want to make sure that we are taking a step back and really looking at that big picture item there, and seeing how we can move forward in a more sustainable and responsible way,” Garcia told reporters.

A government 2020 science plan showed the monument was designed for 50,000 yearly visitors. Yearly counts topped 100,000 visitors before the shutdown. Danita Burns noted foreign travelers arrived from Australia and Japan in 2018.

Drivers waited 90 minutes to park in 2018. The BLM has proposed timed online reservations. Garcia said fee increases are also under review.

Dr. Gary Smith is a University of New Mexico professor. Smith has studied the local volcanic geology since the 1980s. President Bill Clinton designated the national monument in 2001.

“I suspect that the designation of the National Monument was a double-edged sword,” Smith said.

The site sits near Interstate 25 between the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metro areas. The area holds tall formations known as hoodoos. Tribal members view the volcanic ash formations as spiritual wonders.

A national monument preserves unique natural or historical features on federally managed public lands. Tribal governments maintain independent authority over their own road access and sovereign boundaries. Federal agencies must coordinate access policies directly with affiliated tribal leaders.

The BLM plans to share updates on its website. A reopening date has not been set. Gates will remain shut until Cochiti Pueblo lifts its travel rules.