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All the United States New Mexico Walatowa Slot Canyon
AO Edited

Walatowa Slot Canyon

A beautiful red-faced slot canyon in northern New Mexico.

Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico

Added By
Mike Walker
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Walatowa Slot Canyon   mikewalker / Atlas Obscura User
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  icatsstaci / Atlas Obscura User
Crypobiotic soil colonies.   mikewalker / Atlas Obscura User
The trail outside the canyon.   mikewalker / Atlas Obscura User
Walatowa Slot Canyon   mikewalker / Atlas Obscura User
Walatowa Slot Canyon   mikewalker / Atlas Obscura User
  1just4looks / Atlas Obscura User
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About

West of the Jemez Mountains, the verdant Ponderosa forests give way to a desert environment. The soil itself turns red, and majestic rock walls rise high above the landscape. Carved into these cliffs, a narrow canyon winds deep into the rock. This is the Walatowa Slot Canyon, just inside the borders of the Jemez nation.

Walatowa Canyon was formed by millions of years of erosion. Rainwater flows into the path of least resistance, carving deeper and deeper trenches into solid rock. The name “Walatowa” means “this is the place” and is actually the name the Jemez people use for their village. The trail itself has been named the “Red Rocks Trail” for obvious reasons.

Outside the confines of the canyon, the rest of the trail makes a nice loop through the open desert. Visitors can even find patches of cryptobiotic soil—colonies of algae, cyanobacteria, and fungi that build structures in the dirt similar to coral over long periods of time. Make sure to stay on the trail so as not to destroy these soil formations.

Related Tags

Rocks Environment Natural Wonders

Know Before You Go

Access is controlled by Jemez Pueblo, which requires a $12 hiking permit. You can purchase this permit at the Walatowa Visitor Center, which has information and exhibits about the region in general, as well as a gift shop. The trailhead is across the road from the visitor’s center. Like all slot canyons, there is a risk of flash flooding, so check the weather report before you go.

Community Contributors

Added By

mikewalker

Edited By

wesleygade, 1just4looks, icatsstaci

  • wesleygade
  • 1just4looks
  • icatsstaci

Published

June 17, 2022

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Walatowa Slot Canyon
Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, 87024
United States
35.649351, -106.71838

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