Highlights:
Remote, isolated mountains with diverse climate zones; the slopes rise over 3,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert surroundings, to rocky summits and cool pine forests. Several riparian canyons provide hiking routes into the high country
Nearest city with hotels:
Carlsbad (New Mexico), 55 miles
Management:
Location:
31.894, -104.821 (visitor center)
Seasons:
All year; the summits are pleasant even in midsummer
Rating (1-5):
★★★★★
Together with the nearby Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is far removed from most other natural attractions of the Southwest. The closest cities are El Paso (110 miles) or Carlsbad (55 miles), and there are few facilities in this mostly barren region. The park contains the southern end of the Guadalupe Mountains, an isolated range surrounded in all directions by the Chihuahuan Desert, and few people visit, due perhaps also to the lack of a central attraction, a scenic drive or named viewpoints.
This is primarily a park for hiking; the mountains are crossed by a good network of trails and the region has varied climate zones with differing wildlife and vegetation, interesting geology, and many photographic opportunities. As an added attraction, at the end of summer the red, gold and orange colors of the foliage in some of the canyons create a spectacle as good as that in New England.
Map of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
The usual approach to the national park is along the relatively well-traveled highway US 62/180, which crosses the southern Guadalupe Mountains foothills. The main entrance, location of the visitor center and campground, has a picturesque setting right beneath high cliffs at the mouth of Pine Springs Canyon, the largest valley through the center of the park. The campground consists of 20 partially-shaded tent sites and a paved parking area for RVs - no hookups, and no facilities apart from rest rooms and picnic tables - but the surroundings are beautiful, and the most popular trails start right from the site. Evenings here can be quite cool since the site is in shadow relatively early, as the sun disappears behind the mountains in late afternoon; the silhouette of the peaks can be seen moving slowly southwards across the desert for several hours after the sun leaves the canyon. There are three other entrances to the park; two side roads lead to McKittrick Canyon towards the east, start point for a long trail through a riparian valley, and to Frijole Ranch, site of a preserved homestead and trailhead for a loop hike to two springs. Seven miles across the mountains, the forested Dog Canyon area at the north side of the national park is also reached by a paved road, but a 105 mile drive through New Mexico is needed to get there. Admission to the park (2020) is good value at just $5 per person, while the campground is also inexpensive, $8 per vehicle per night, though increases are proposed, to $7 and $15 respectively.
The Guadalupe Mountains are part of an ancient fossilised reef which also includes the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico - a huge limestone formation that continues in a great arc west towards Van Horn and east towards Alpine. Most is buried, the only other exposed sections being the Apache, Delaware and Glass Mountains, all in Texas. The high country has much exposed rock with fossils, and a climate typical of lands much further north, sustaining pine, fir and aspen trees and creatures such as elk, mountain lions and even black bears. Surrounding the mountains lie the plains of the Chihuahuan Desert, where the temperatures usually top 100°F for over four months of the year, and plant life is quite different - several species of cacti, yucca, sotol and other similar spiky bushes. This land is towards the northern edge of the desert, which in Texas is most spectacular around Big Bend National Park, and continues south far into Mexico. The canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains offer another contrast, with a transition from desert to mountain environments as well as much plant life found nowhere else. Most have streams flowing through at some times of year which support a rich riparian mixture of many kinds of trees, bushes and wildlife. McKittrick is the most popular canyon; other ravines with trails include two forks of Dog Canyon and the lower end of Pine Spring Canyon (Devil's Hall Trail).
The national park includes a rarely-visited desert area west of the mountains, at the edge of Salt Basin, a great arc of salt flats, dry lakes and sandy mounds that extends 30 miles north to south. Most of the section within the park is occupied by a broad depression formed by geological faulting, around 3,700 feet in elevation, and once filled with a shallow lake. The waters have long since evaporated as the climate has become drier, and now the most spectacular feature is a band of white gypsum dunes 3 miles in length, the north edge of which is followed by a short trail, starting at the end of Williams Road, an unpaved though regularly maintained route (impassable when wet) that branches off the paved Hwy 1576 from Salt Flat, along US 62/180 - a drive of 48 miles from the park headquarters. The dunes reach a maximum height of 60 feet, and are being gradually enlarged, with salt blown by the prevailing wind. The basin is open for day use only.
Descriptions of all trails in the national park.
This is primarily a park for hiking; the mountains are crossed by a good network of trails and the region has varied climate zones with differing wildlife and vegetation, interesting geology, and many photographic opportunities. As an added attraction, at the end of summer the red, gold and orange colors of the foliage in some of the canyons create a spectacle as good as that in New England.
Location
Map of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Approach Roads
The usual approach to the national park is along the relatively well-traveled highway US 62/180, which crosses the southern Guadalupe Mountains foothills. The main entrance, location of the visitor center and campground, has a picturesque setting right beneath high cliffs at the mouth of Pine Springs Canyon, the largest valley through the center of the park. The campground consists of 20 partially-shaded tent sites and a paved parking area for RVs - no hookups, and no facilities apart from rest rooms and picnic tables - but the surroundings are beautiful, and the most popular trails start right from the site. Evenings here can be quite cool since the site is in shadow relatively early, as the sun disappears behind the mountains in late afternoon; the silhouette of the peaks can be seen moving slowly southwards across the desert for several hours after the sun leaves the canyon. There are three other entrances to the park; two side roads lead to McKittrick Canyon towards the east, start point for a long trail through a riparian valley, and to Frijole Ranch, site of a preserved homestead and trailhead for a loop hike to two springs. Seven miles across the mountains, the forested Dog Canyon area at the north side of the national park is also reached by a paved road, but a 105 mile drive through New Mexico is needed to get there. Admission to the park (2020) is good value at just $5 per person, while the campground is also inexpensive, $8 per vehicle per night, though increases are proposed, to $7 and $15 respectively.
Geology and Landscapes
The Guadalupe Mountains are part of an ancient fossilised reef which also includes the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico - a huge limestone formation that continues in a great arc west towards Van Horn and east towards Alpine. Most is buried, the only other exposed sections being the Apache, Delaware and Glass Mountains, all in Texas. The high country has much exposed rock with fossils, and a climate typical of lands much further north, sustaining pine, fir and aspen trees and creatures such as elk, mountain lions and even black bears. Surrounding the mountains lie the plains of the Chihuahuan Desert, where the temperatures usually top 100°F for over four months of the year, and plant life is quite different - several species of cacti, yucca, sotol and other similar spiky bushes. This land is towards the northern edge of the desert, which in Texas is most spectacular around Big Bend National Park, and continues south far into Mexico. The canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains offer another contrast, with a transition from desert to mountain environments as well as much plant life found nowhere else. Most have streams flowing through at some times of year which support a rich riparian mixture of many kinds of trees, bushes and wildlife. McKittrick is the most popular canyon; other ravines with trails include two forks of Dog Canyon and the lower end of Pine Spring Canyon (Devil's Hall Trail).
Salt Basin
The national park includes a rarely-visited desert area west of the mountains, at the edge of Salt Basin, a great arc of salt flats, dry lakes and sandy mounds that extends 30 miles north to south. Most of the section within the park is occupied by a broad depression formed by geological faulting, around 3,700 feet in elevation, and once filled with a shallow lake. The waters have long since evaporated as the climate has become drier, and now the most spectacular feature is a band of white gypsum dunes 3 miles in length, the north edge of which is followed by a short trail, starting at the end of Williams Road, an unpaved though regularly maintained route (impassable when wet) that branches off the paved Hwy 1576 from Salt Flat, along US 62/180 - a drive of 48 miles from the park headquarters. The dunes reach a maximum height of 60 feet, and are being gradually enlarged, with salt blown by the prevailing wind. The basin is open for day use only.
Guadalupe Mountains Trails
Descriptions of all trails in the national park.
Guadalupe Mountains - Hiking
Hiking - all trails of the Guadalupe Mountains
Featured Trails
Surroundings - nearby places of interest
Featured Trails
Devils Hall
★★★★★
★★★★★
2.1 miles, 750 feet
Devil's Hall is a narrow, 200 foot deep, vertical-walled ravine through thin-layered limestone strata, and may be reached by a fairly level trail up Pine Spring CanyonGuadalupe Peak
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.2 miles, 2940 feet
The highest peak in Texas rises nearly 3,000 feet above Pine Spring campground, starting point for the strenuous trail to the summitHunter Peak
★★★★★
★★★★★
9 miles, 2540 feet (loop)
Rewarding loop hike to an 8,368 foot summit - up a steep, narrow, sheltered ravine (Bear Canyon), through the pine woodland of the Bowl, and down an exposed ridge above Pine Spring CanyonMcKittrick Canyon
★★★★★
★★★★★
3.4 miles, 2700 feet
McKittrick is the most scenic canyon in the national park - a shallow stream flows year-round, and the lower few miles have abundant vegetation and wildlifePermian Reef
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8 miles, 2000 feet
Steep ascent of the limestone slopes on the northeast side of McKittrick Canyon, up to a forested plateau bordering the Lincoln National ForestSmith Spring
★★★★★
★★★★★
2.3 miles, 220 feet
This easy loop first leads to Manzanita Spring, in a grassy clearing close to Frijole Ranch, then climbs up open hillsides below Frijole Ridge to the larger Smith Spring, set in shady maple/oak/pine woodlandGuadalupe Mountains - Wildflowers
Guadalupe Mountains - Photographs
Nearby places
Carlsbad Caverns National Park (35 miles) - world famous limestone caves
Hueco Tanks State Park (88 miles) - granite outcrop with many pictographs, also popular for rock climbing
Similar places
Great Basin National Park, Nevada - scenic mountain area amidst the Great Basin desert
Mount Charleston, Nevada - 11,918 foot peak with desert surroundings and varied climate zones
Guadalupe Mountains NP is part of the New Mexico Highlights and West and Central Texas itineraries
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