Guadalupe Mountains National Park Things to Do

With an elevation of 8,631 feet , Bush Mountain, is the second highest peak in the state of Texas. Bush Mountain is nearly three miles northwest of Guadalupe Peak and can only be accessed via hiking or horseback.

Frijole Ranch is a delightful oasis on the edge of the dry, lower slopes of the Guadalupe escarpment which truly captures the rugged sprit of the American West. Today the Frijole Ranch History Museum occupies the old ranch headquarters, and displays the sequential human history of the Guadalupes from Native Americans and the early ranching community to the establishment of a national park. Imagine what life may have been like in this remote West Texas location 100 years ago.

The Frijole Horse trailhead is located at the Frijole Horse Campsites and a short distance from the historic ranch.

Less than a quarter mile from the trail is the junction of three trails. Stay straight to continue toward the summit of Guadalupe Peak. A right turn directs hikers toward Devil's Hall and the Guadalupe Peak "stock trail". A left turn here begins the El Capitan Trail.

El Capitan is the eighth highest peak in Texas and it's imposing height and stark outline have made it an iconic image for generations of travelers.

Located forty-five miles west of the park, Dell City, Texas is a small farming community with limited services, including gas and lodging options.

The Chosa Campground is a maintained dry camping area. Camping is free and the camping limit is 14 days. The entire area is a large, square, gravel parking lot which makes it easy for leveling. There are no electric, water, or sewer hookups available. Trash cans are available on site.

Carlsbad, New Mexico is the closest community within an hour of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Most services are available here.

At 8,368 feet elevation, Hunter Peak is the sixth highest mountain in Texas and only 381 feet lower than Guadalupe Peak.

As hikers cross "Around The Bend" the landscape changes dramatically and hikers will discover a forest of two-needle pinyon, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and a few southwestern white pines.

Bartlett Peak is the fourth highest point in Texas with an elevation of 8,508 feet above sea level.

At three and one quarter miles up the trail hikers will pass a sign indicating the Guadalupe Peak backcountry campsite. A short trail leads north to the campsite, where there are five individual tent sites. Backpackers wishing to hike the peak for sunrise and sunset can camp here if they obtain a Wilderness Use Permit in advance of their hike.

A key remnant of the early Twentieth Century ranching era, the Williams ranch house lies approximately one mile northeast of the original Butterfield Overland Stage Route, which moved further south in 1859. The house is situated in a narrow valley between the Guadalupe Mountains to the east and the Patterson Hills to the west. The ranch sits at the mouth of Bone Canyon, placing it close to the perennial water source of Bone Spring.

Whites City, New Mexico is a commercial development offering camping and lodging and other services immediately adjacent Carlsbad Caverns National Park and thirty-five miles northeast of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Visit the ruins of the Pinery Station and get a sense of the isolation and rugged beauty that travelers experienced here in 1858. The old stone walls stand today as a testament to the spirit of change that early travelers, station keepers, and stage drivers carried as they passed this way over a century and a half ago.

Located where the McKittrick Canyon Trail first breaks through the ridge, "The Notch" is a strenuous hike and the last traditional day hike destination within South McKittrick Canyon.

The hitching posts below the summit of Guadalupe Peak mark the end of the portion of the trail that stock are allowed to travel. The trail continues to the left of the hitching posts on slick rock surfaces. You are nearly to the summit!

The open face of a small cave and rock benches and tables await you in the deep shade in McKittrick Canyon, a tempting location for a picnic.

The orchard at Frijole Ranch was planted around 1906 by J. T. Smith. The Smiths used a variety of techniques to care for the trees, such as irrigation, fertilization with manure, planting alfalfa under the trees, and experimenting with grafting. In 2006, the orchard was partly replanted thanks to the work of a group of Eagle Scouts. The orchard was a vital part of the self-sustaining family farmstead, and the fruit trees continue to be an important part of the landscape.

The Dog Canyon trailhead is located in the remote northern district of the park. The higher elevation makes for faster access to the wilderness and high country.

Nearly a mile below the summit of Guadalupe Peak, the trail crosses a small chasm by a wooden bridge. This bridge is a well photographed landmark on the trail.

The junction with the Tejas Trail is a short distance up the trail from the Pine Springs Trailhead. The Tejas Trail is the gateway to the high elevation Wilderness in the park.

The Sunset Reef Campground, located off the Washington Ranch Road, is a reclaimed well pad with 11 developed campsites; five RV spaces and six tent sites. Each site has a covered picnic table and grill for your camping convenience with a vault toilet on site. Visitors can dry camp in the area for a maximum of five nights for free.

The stock trail junction marks almost a mile up the trail to the Guadalupe Peak summit. The so-called "Stock Trail" is the original trail section and offers a significantly less steep ascent and descent with the trade-off of an additional mile hiked. This junction provides excellent views of Guadalupe Pass, Pine Spring Canyon, the Pine Springs Visitor Center, and Pine Springs Campground.

Smith Spring is one of several springs along the base of the Eastern escarpment. There is no reliable water in the high country. When it rains, water quickly enters a series of cracks and joints in the limestone, later emerging in springs like this below the escarpment. The water from Smith Spring goes underground just a short way below the spring, later reemerging at Manzanita Spring. At this point you have entered a lush riparian (streamside) woodland. This beautiful oasis is made possible by the water emerging from the spring. Because of this abundant water, trees can survive here that could not live in the open desert. Look for tall, long-needled pines with orange-colored bark. These are Ponderosa Pines. See if you can locate a tree with peeling red bark and green leaves (even in winter). This is the Texas Madrone. In the fall the Texas Madrone may have red berries on it, and in the spring look for white flowers. Try to find a deciduous tree with small maple-like leaves. This will be much easier in the fall when the leaves have turned brilliant reds and oranges. This tree is the big-toothed maple.

Located 55 miles to the south, the town of Van Horn, Texas is a gateway community to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The town is located along Interstate 10 and offers a variety of basic services.

Shumard Peak is the third highest point in Texas with an elevation of 8,615 feet above sea level.

Designed in 1941 and built between 1941 and 1943, the Ship on the Desert was commissioned by Wallace E. Pratt, a petroleum geologist known as an innovator in the field of scientific oil exploration. The Ship on the Desert is an early example of 20th century modernism, distinct for West Texas. Today, Ship on the Desert remains under the care of the National Park Service and is generally not open to the public.

The white gypsum sands of the Salt Basin Dunes rise 100 feet from the desert floor and provide a brilliant contrast to the dark, towering cliffs of the Guadalupe Mountains. This is the only trailhead on the remote western side of the park.

On the remote west side of the Guadalupe Mountains, below Bartlett Peak stands the Pure Well. This abandoned oil well stands as a testament to repeated, unsuccessful efforts to locate oil in the Guadalupe Mountains, even by a family dedicated to preserving this landscape.

Pratt Cabin, also referred to as the Stone Cabin, is located in the northeast part of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park which is approximately 110 miles east of El Paso, Texas. Pratt Cabin was designed by noted Houston architect John F. Staub. The Cabin is constructed predominantly of local limestone and pine wood timbers. The design of the Cabin reflects an appreciation of the unique geological resources of the canyon and the rustic setting in which it is situated.

The Pine Springs trailhead is the starting point for many park trails, and is located near the campground. Except for the Pinery Trail near the visitor center, most of the trails starting here are rated strenuous with significant elevation gains. On busy weekends this trailhead area often fills first.

The Pine Springs Café was a roadside business located along U.S Highway 62/180 from the 1930s through the 1990s. Owned by Walter and Bertha Glover, the complex included a gas station, store, café, and guesthouse with cabins for overnight stays.

The park store is operated by Western National Parks Association, an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park store has a wide range of books, maps, travel guides, and other items available for retail sale

The McKittrick Canyon trailhead is the starting point for trails for destinations in McKittrick Canyon as well as above and beyond the canyon. Trail destinations inside the canyon make excellent day hikes. The trailhead is located on the other side of the visitor center from the parking lot. This is a day use area and visitors must exit before the gate closing time each evening.

Manzanita Spring is a short distance from the Frijole Ranch and a good spot for birding.

Lost Peak is a gentle and easily accessed peak on the north end of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. At 7,830 feet above sea level, Lost Peak is the ninth highest point in the state of Texas.

Tucked deep into South McKittrick Canyon, the Hunter Line Shack stands as a wilderness remnant of the Hunter-Grisham partnership which consolidated small West Texas ranches into a large corporate entity to make it economically viable in the early Twentieth Century.

A unique geology and a relative abundance of water made the Hueco Tanks site a refuge for nature and humans for over ten thousand years. This park offers guided & self-led tours of ancient rock imagery, plus picnic spots & 20 campsites.

Guadalupe Peak is the highest natural point in Texas, with an elevation of 8,751 feet above sea level. The peak can be climbed by a maintained strenuous day hike via the Guadalupe Peak Trail with a 3,000 feet elevation gain at any time of the year.

The Frijole Ranch trailhead is located at the end of the Frijole Ranch Road and a short distance from the historic ranch. The popular Smith Springs loop trail begins here. A picnic area is immediately adjacent the trailhead.

A new kind of experience in the Guadalupe Mountains starts where the maintained trail ends. However, off-trail hiking requires planning and preparation and carries a great deal of risk. Any person or persons planning to hike off trail in the park must stop by the Pine Springs Visitor Center and be issued an off-trail hiking permit.

The hike to "the Notch" is a challenging day hike that proceeds through McKittrick Canyon to a dramatic viewpoint about half way up toward McKittrick Ridge.

The lesser used Permian Reef Trail leads to sheltered campsites and spectacular views into McKittrick Canyon, making a great destination of a one night, two day backpacking trip into the Wilderness. 

If you have a high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicle, the primitive dirt road to Williams Ranch provides a unique opportunity to get off the beaten path and get close to the remote and imposing western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains. The Williams Ranch Road is currently CLOSED.

A backpacking trip in Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness requires some prior planning and decision-making to ensure the best experience.

This viewpoint, located just to the southeast of the park boundary alongside U.S. Highway 62/180 provides an excellent view to the summit of Guadalupe Peak. 

Frijole Ranch is a delightful oasis on the edge of the dry, lower slopes of the Guadalupe escarpment which truly captures the rugged sprit of the American West. Today the Frijole Ranch History Museum occupies the old ranch headquarters and displays the human history of the Guadalupes. The grounds are open from dusk to dawn, with picnic tables at the parking area and under the large shade trees in the courtyard. Bring your binoculars; this is an excellent location for birding!

The McKittrick Canyon Trail follows the floor of South McKittrick Canyon for four miles before climbing steeply to gain the ridge on the north side of the canyon. This is an arduous climb provides spectacular views into the canyon and to the ridges that border it. This is an extremely rewarding trail, offering both the variety of McKittrick Canyon and the grandeur of the high ridges that surround it.

The journey to the top of McKittrick Ridge is "the toughest hike in Texas." This arduous hike is best enjoyed as an overnight hike allowing for rest, recovery, and fabulous night skies at the McKittrick Ridge Wilderness Campground. An overnight Wilderness Use Permit is required for camping.

For those bringing horses and other stock to the Guadalupe Mountains, the park offers diverse riding opportunities. Sixty percent of the trails are open to stock use.

As with most activities, hikers face potential risks. Knowledge and preparation can increase your comfort level and reduce your chances of injury. Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

This trail covers 100 miles (161 km) through Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Lincoln National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Over 20 miles (32 km) of this trail is within Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

The Pinery Trail offers visitors an opportunity to take a quick walk on a paved trail. The trail also features ruins of the Old Butterfield Stagecoach Route Pinery Station built in 1858.

Camping is authorized for overnight horse users only at the visitor horse corrals, with a permit. The visitor horse corrals and campsites at Frijole Horse Corral Campground and Dog Canyon Campground can be reserved in advance of the visit.

Nothing can spoil a trip in the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness as quickly as the discovery of human waste or toilet paper at a prime camping spot or along the trail. Always use the restroom before hiking. If you are on the trail for the day or an extended trip, be prepared to pack out human waste, toilet paper, diapers, and hygiene products. Human waste disposal bags are highly recommended to transport solid waste.

Bright fall colors of deciduous trees are not common in the southwest, but elevation and environment combine in the Guadalupe Mountains for a seasonally striking display usually from mid-October to Mid-November. A series of short and long hikes of varying degrees of difficulty will bring you to glimpse of this annual splendor.

There are a variety of rules and regulations that dictate how the parks must be managed. These laws and regulations help us protect park resources while also providing visitors with a safe and enjoyable experience.

This short trail connects the visitor center to the campground and the trailhead area at Pine Springs.

The journey to the top of McKittrick Ridge is "the toughest hike in Texas." This arduous hike is best enjoyed as an overnight hike allowing for rest, recovery, and fabulous night skies at the McKittrick Ridge Wilderness Campground. An overnight Wilderness Use Permit is required for camping.

The Tejas Trail is the primary north/south through trail within the park, connecting the Pine Springs Trailhead with the Dog Canyon Trailhead at the park's northern boundary. This major artery can be used to connect to numerous other trails to make a variety of loops. The central portion of the trail from Pine Top until the McKittrick Canyon Trail junction is forested, passing through the Bowl and numerous drainages.

The Tejas Trail is the primary north/south through trail within the park, connecting the Pine Springs Trailhead with the Dog Canyon Trailhead at the park's northern boundary. The central portion of the trail from Pine Top until the McKittrick Canyon Trail junction is forested, passing through the Bowl and numerous drainages. As the trail descends from McKittrick Ridge, visitors are provided with a panoramic experience of the canyon.

Climb to the "Top of Texas" with a hike up Guadalupe Peak. Guadalupe Peak is a rewarding, although very strenuous, 8.4 mile round trip hike with a 3,000 foot elevation gain. It will take from six to eight hours to complete the hike. The peak provides fantastic views from the highest point in the state of Texas (8,751 feet / 2,667 meters). It also introduces hikers to several of the park’s ecosystems including the high desert and the high elevation forests.

In order to protect sensitive ecosystems and limit the impacts on the natural landscape, day-use hiking groups may not be larger than twenty persons on any trails in the park. This page provides suggestions on how to split your group up in order to preserve Wilderness character, and limit adverse impacts on park resources.

The Manzanita Spring Trail is a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) out and back trail that begins adjacent the Frijole Ranch. Manzanita Spring is a wide pool that provides excellent bird watching opportunities.

The Indian Meadow Nature Trail is an easy 0.6 mile loop that begins across the road from the ranger station and next to the group campsite, offering good views of the landscape. At a leisurely pace it takes 30-45 minutes. The trail is rated easy as it remains almost level after crossing an arroyo.

Begin this hike at the trailhead sign. Look for birds, mule deer, and elk as you walk this loop trail to the shady oasis of Smith Spring. Take a break here and enjoy the gurgling sounds of the tiny waterfall before continuing around to sunny Manzanita Spring. Scars from wildland fires of 1990 and 1993 are evident along the trail. The trail is rated moderate, with a round-trip distance of 2.3 miles. Allow one to two hours.

Hiking the Bush Mountain Trail from Dog Canyon out to the Marcus Overlook and back makes an excellent and usually solitary day hike in the Guadalupe Mountains. From the Marcus Overlook, there are commanding views south into the Guadalupe Mountains and westward. 

Enjoy the shortest distance into the heart of the canyon by hiking to Pratt Cabin and return (a distance of 4.8 miles). Along this walk you will cross the stream once before arriving at the historic structure. Enjoy a snack or lunch at the picnic tables near or at Pratt Cabin, or sit for a spell on the porch. Volunteers staff Pratt Cabin on occasion; take a look inside the stone structure.

Hiking the Tejas Trail from Dog Canyon out to the Lost Peak Saddle and back makes an excellent day hike in the Guadalupe Mountains.

This moderate loop route uses the Frijole Trail and the Foothills Trail to make a loop below the eastern escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Stretch out your day hike into McKittrick Canyon by hiking to the Grotto. Elevation gain doubles as you travel further up canyon, but is still mild at less then 600 feet gained from the trailhead. Exposed cave features and stone picnic tables near the Hunter Line Shack make for a fabulous lunch destination. 

The Permian Reef Trail climbs the north side of McKittrick Canyon to the top of Wilderness Ridge, providing sweeping views into South McKittrick Canyon. Among the least used trails in the park, this long climb is rewarded with solitude and dramatic landscape views.

The hike to Hunter Peak is a challenging day hike done as a loop up the Bear Canyon Trail and down the Tejas Trail that provides solitude, stunning views, and opportunities for side trails into the Bowl area.

The strenuous route to Devil's Hall departs from the Pine Springs Trailhead and is 4.2 miles round-trip. After the first mile the trail enters a rocky wash which leads hikers to an impressive natural rock staircase that connects to a "hallway" formed by steep canyon walls. Rock surfaces in the wash can be slippery when dry and visitors should exercise caution on this hike.

On the climb up Guadalupe Pass on U.S. Highway 62/180 just a few miles west of the Pine Springs area, this roadside pull-off provides an unparalleled view to the summit of El Capitan. 

This fascinating, short trail passes an intermittent seep that lies hidden in junipers, then wanders up a southwest slope along an arroyo. Here, plants and animals tolerate true desert conditions. At the top of the trail you can look down at the mouth of McKittrick Canyon and read about Permian Reef geology.

The white gypsum sands of the Salt Basin Dunes rise 100 feet from the desert floor and provide a brilliant contrast to the dark, towering cliffs of the Guadalupe Mountains. From the trailhead, follow the trail to the gypsum sand dune field with excellent views of the western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains. There is no shade along the trail, so carry plenty of water and avoid hiking in the midday heat. 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is in the Mountain Time Zone. Visitors relying on electronic devices may be misled, as cell signal service for the park comes from towers located in the Central Time Zone. We strongly suggest that you set your phone or other device to Mountain time during your visit. 

Dog Canyon, the park's remote north district, is only seven miles as the crow files, but a full two hour drive [one-way] from Pine Springs through a panoramic Chihuahuan Desert and mountain landscape.

Located line of sight to Dog Canyon, the Five Points Vista is a scenic overlook near the end of the Guadalupe Rim Road in the Lincoln National Forest's Guadalupe Ranger District. This viewpoint offers spectacular views of the 'Rim' and the Guadalupe Mountains.

From the south, Texas State Highway 54 leads directly to the Guadalupes from Van Horn, Texas. Running between the Delaware Mountains to the east and Sierra Diablo on the west, the highway provides a dramatic approach to the Guadalupe Mountains, and on a clear day, you can see the mountains ahead of you for forty miles. 

Every visitor to Guadalupe Mountains National Park travels U.S Highway 62/180. Connecting El Paso, Texas to Carlsbad, New Mexico, the highway provides breath-taking views of the park from the north, south, and west. The highway enters the park for five miles and a series of access roads provide access to park features.

Opportunities for pets are limited. Leashed pets may walk on the short Pine Springs Campground connector trail or along the Pinery Trail from the visitor center to the Butterfield Stage Station.

The white gypsum sands of the Salt Basin Dunes rise 100 feet from the desert floor and provide a brilliant contrast to the dark, towering cliffs of the Guadalupe Mountains. This is a lesser used area of the park; a drive to the dunes provides excellent views of El Capitan and the western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Search and rescue actions are conducted on a discretionary basis. The level and necessity of the response is determined through evaluation of the situation by field personnel. Rescuer safety is always our first priority. This park expects visitors to exhibit a high degree of self-reliance and responsibility for their own safety in line with the difficulty of their chosen activities. There is little to no cell reception in most areas of the park.

Each of us plays a vital role in protecting our national parks. As we spend time outdoors, in the natural world and in wilderness, it’s important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems. Following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, summarized below, can help us minimize those impacts.

When you reach a summit or other destination in the park, take a group photo or selfie in areas of the park and post to social media and include the hashtag #GuadalupeMountains #guadalupepeak #hunterpeak #lostpeak or others hashtags using your device and social media service.

The park store is operated by Western National Parks Association, an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park store has a wide range of books, maps, travel guides, and other items available for retail sale. These products complement the interpretive themes you experience when visiting the park. The park store is located in the Pine Springs Visitor Center.