Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Albuquerque

A well-hidden secret that is gaining popularity since it became a National Monument in 2001, Tent Rocks is certainly worth the 52-mile drive from Albuquerque. Start on the easy, 1.2 mile Cave Loop Trail and connect to the more difficult 1.5 mile Canyon Trail (one way). Meander through shoulder-width slot canyons leading to a steep 630-foot climb to the top of a mesa where your reward is sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia mountains. Along the way, view cone-shaped tent rock formations — the products of volcanic eruptions sculpted by wind and water. These unique geological formations are only found here and in Turkey.