Photo:
JYB Devot / CC BY-SA 4.0
The Guadalupe Mountains rise abruptly from the Chihuahuan Desert of far west Texas, a rugged, wind-scoured range built from an ancient fossilized reef and crowned by Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. Quiet and demanding, the park hides the surprising green oasis of McKittrick Canyon amid the desert, blazing gold each fall, and offers some of the finest wilderness hiking in the Southwest.
The range is the exposed remnant of a 260-million-year-old reef, now a high desert massif of limestone canyons, escarpments and a forested crest. The desert floor of cactus and agave gives way in sheltered McKittrick Canyon to maples and oaks fed by a spring-fed stream, while the high country holds relict conifer forest, a striking layering of desert, canyon and mountain worlds.
Fall is the signature season, when McKittrick Canyon’s maples turn brilliant and temperatures ease; spring is mild and good for hiking too. Summer is very hot and often fiercely windy, so start early and carry extra water. Winter can bring cold, snow and high winds to the exposed heights.
The park sits on US-62/180 about 110 miles east of El Paso, with the Pine Springs visitor center and campground as the base. There are no roads into the high country and few services, so a vehicle gets you to the trailheads and the rest is on foot. Come fully self-supplied.
Climb the strenuous switchbacks to Guadalupe Peak for the top-of-Texas view, walk the gentler McKittrick Canyon trail to the historic Pratt Cabin and the Grotto, and hike Devil’s Hall and the dunes of the west side. Backpackers head into the high wilderness for solitude and dark skies, with the park’s trails among the best in the region.
Heat, sun and relentless wind are the main hazards, and there is no water on the trails. Carry far more than you expect to need, start early, and turn back before you are spent. Trails are steep and exposed, storms can bring lightning and cold, and the remoteness means you must be self-sufficient.
An entrance fee applies, backcountry camping needs a permit, and services are minimal, so carry water, food and fuel. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
