1.4 Mile Roundtrip Hike Through A Slot Canyon That Leads To The Rio Grande

Moderate With Slickrock Sections And Can Have Extreme Heat

Just off the amazing Farm to Market 170 Road towards the eastern end of the park is the awesome Colorado Plateau style slot canyon known as Closed Canyon. After parking you will hike in an exposed sandy and gravely wash towards the canyon. This section can be very hot so bring your water. The wash slowly takes you to the slot canyon which divides what’s known as Colorado Mesa. Just like on the Colorado Plateau though, heavy monsoon rains that drop in the desert both distant and far bring torrents of water with sand and rocks that have carved this refreshing and usually shaded path in the hot Chihuahuan Desert. “Millions of years of carving through the Santana Tuff of Colorado Mesa divided it into two – Mesa de la Cuchilla to the east and Mesa de Nueve to the west.”

At the end of the trail (which is not the end of the canyon) there is a sign that says “End of Trail; Do not proceed beyond this point”. I had assumed the trail went all the way to the river and I was disappointed but at this point there is a steep slickrock drop off into a tinaja or pool of water. There were also a lot of bees.

Make sure you’re wearing the right kind of shoes like ones with some grip because it is very dusty and it can get quite slippery. It does in fact get more difficult the further down you go. And don’t forget your water (and camera).