Out in West Texas, travelers can see the high point of Texas in the Guadalupe Mountains. At 8,751 feet, hiker can take a developed trail to reach the summit and mark another peak off their list. Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers dark skies and quiet hiking through its rugged mountain scenery. Here are the best things to do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Top Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Learn about the Chihuahuan Desert
Stop by the Pine Spring Visitor Center
Take a Scenic Drive
Visit a Canyon or the Frijoles Ranch
See the Highest Point in Texas
Hike in the Park
Spot Wildlife
Do a Ranger Program
Picnic
Camp in the Park
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Is Guadalupe Mountains Worth a Visit?
Established in 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park preserves four of the highest peaks in Texas. It also tells the story of the Permian Sea, an ancient body of water that left behind fossils throughout the existing rocky landscape.
The remaining mountains in the region above the Chihuahuan Desert floor were once a reef on the ocean floor. Visitors see the Guadalupe Mountains rise sharply from the surrounding desert, topped with Douglas Firs and Ponderosa Pines
Native Americans once fought to keep this land. Regiments of Buffalo Soldiers fought to protect it. The stagecoach traveled through the area with a brief stop at the Pinery.
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Visitor Centers in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Visitor centers are the place to grab maps or Junior Ranger booklets. Most offer interpretive areas to learn more about the area. The Pine Springs, Dog Canyon, and McKittrick Canyon Visitor Centers are all accessible.
This is also the place to ask questions and learn about park ranger programming. Restrooms and water bottle fillers are usually located at the visitor center.
Pine Springs Visitor Center
Pine Springs Visitor Center is the park’s main visitor center. It includes a museum and interpretive exhibits. It issues overnight wilderness use permits.
Located at 400 Pine Canyon, Salt Flat, TX. Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it operates on Mountain Time, like El Paso.
Dog Canyon Ranger Station
The Dog Canyon Ranger Station is located in a forested canyon. The Dog Canyon Campground is in the area.
Located at 361 Dog Canyon Rd, Salt Flat, TX. It operates intermittently depending on staff availability.
McKittrick Canyon Contact Station
This contact station is located in front of the McKittrick Canyon Trailhead. Visitors can watch an interpretive video or view the outside exhibits.
It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time when staffing permits. This location is open intermittently depending on staff availability.
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Scenic Drives in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
No roads pass through the center of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Instead, roads provide access to certain parts of the park.
U.S. Highway 62/180 connects El Paso, Texas, to Carlsbad, New Mexico, and provides the primary access to the park. It offers stunning views of the Guadalupe Mountains.
Texas State Highway 54 is used to reach Van Horn, on Interstate 10. It routes vehicles between the Delaware Mountains to the east and Sierra Diablo to the west. This route is a dramatic approach to the Guadalupe Mountains.
Guadalupe Peak Viewpoint—located just to the southeast of the park boundary alongside U.S. Highway 62/180. Visitors will find a covered shelter and a picnic table with an excellent view of Guadalupe Peak.
El Capitan Summit Viewpoint—located on U.S. Highway 62/180 just a few miles west of the Pine Springs area on the climb up Guadalupe Pass. This roadside pull-off provides an unparalleled view to the summit of El Capitan.
Places to Visit
With over 86,000 acres, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is large. Most of it is remote wilderness.
Pine Springs is the park’s hub with its main visitor center, a campground and several trailheads. Popular options include the Pinery Trail and the Tejas Through Trail.
Frijole Ranch area includes the Frijole Ranch History Museum, an old ranch headquarters before the establishment of a national park. It displays the human history of the Guadalupes from Native Americans and the early ranching community.
This area includes a one-room schoolhouse. There is a spring house for the cold water spring in the area, vital for survival.
McKittrick Canyon is home to a riparian oasis. During the autumns, Bigtooth Maples put on a show. Century plants and prickly pear cacti also flourish in the canyon.
Dog Canyon is located in the park’s remote north district at an elevation of 6,300 feet. To reach it, visitors must enter from the north, via Highway 137 from New Mexico.
Salt Basin Dunes are gypsum grains that form the bright-white dunes, covering about 2,000 acres. They range from three feet to sixty feet tall. They are located on the western side of the park, off Williams Road and outside of Dell City.
Highest Peaks in the Guadalupe Mountains
Guadalupe Peak is the highest natural point in Texas, with an elevation of 8,751 feet above sea level. Hikers can summit the peak via the Guadalupe Peak Trail with a 3,000-foot elevation gain at any time of the year.
Bush Mountain is the second-highest peak in Texas at 8,631 feet.
Shumard Peak is the third-highest point with an elevation of 8,615 feet.
Bartlett Peak is the fourth-highest mountain with an elevation of 8,508 feet above sea level.
Hunter Peak is 8,368 feet in elevation.
El Capitan’s stark outline has made it an iconic image for generations of travelers. It is the eighth-highest peak in Texas at 8,085 feet.
Lost Peak stands at 7,830 feet above sea level.
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Hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Hiking is one of the best ways to explore a national park site. This park includes over 80 miles of hiking trails.
During my visit, we hiked the trails around the Pine Springs Visitor Center. If you need recommendations, talk to a Park Ranger.
- Pinery Trail is a 0.75-mile (1.2 km) round-trip paved trail that leads to the ruins of a mid-1800s Butterfield Stagecoach Station, departing from the Visitor Center. The ruins can also be reached off US 62/180, a quarter-mile from the Pine Springs Visitor Center.
- Indian Meadow Nature Trail is 0.6 mile (0.9 km) trail in length at the Dog Canyon Ranger Station.
- Manzanita Spring Trail is a paved a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) round-trip hike at Frijole Ranch.
- McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail is a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) loop.
- McKittrick Canyon Trail is a 10.9-mile (17.6 km) trail that connects McKittrick Canyon Trailhead to the Tejas Trail junction.
- Frijole Trail is a 2.6-mile (4.2 km) trail from Foothills Junction to Frijole Ranch.
- Smith Spring Trail is a 2.3-mile (3.8 km) loop at Frijole Ranch.
- Devil’s Hall is a strenuous 4.2-mile round-trip hike from the Pine Springs Trailhead
- Tejas Through Trail is an 11.8-mile (19.0 km) trail that connects the Pine Springs Trailhead to the Dog Canyon Trailhead.
- Bush Mountain Trail is a major artery of the trail system at 12.3 miles (19.8 km).
- Salt Basin Dunes Trail is a 1.5-mile (2.9 km) one-way trail on the west side of the park.
- Guadalupe Peak Trail is an 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.
- El Capital Trail is a 9.4-mile (15.2 km) trail from Pine Springs to Williams Ranch. It does not summit.
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Wildlife in Guadalupe Mountains
Wildlife spotting is one of the top activities on any national park adventure. Visitors can spot animals while hiking, especially near water sources and at dusk and dawn.
Guadalupe National Park is home to 60 species of mammals, 289 species of birds and 55 species of reptiles. Even though it is located in the Chihuahua Desert, it features Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine with several different ecosystems.
Mule deer
Mountain lion
Kit fox
Coyote
Javelinas
Bobcat
Badger
Black-tailed jackrabbits
16 species of bats
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Bullsnake
Coachwhip snake
Over 3,000 feet, the temperatures cool and different species can be found.
Elk
Black bear
Gray foxes
Striped and hog-nosed skunks
Porcupines
Park rangers recommend visitors stay at least 25 feet away from larger mammals, like deer and elk and 75 feet away from bears.
Ranger Programs in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Dive deeper into a national park site by attending a ranger program. With programming for all ages, rangers can lead hikes, guided tours and special programming for kids, the Junior Ranger Program.
Evening programs might be held at the Pine Springs Campground’s amphitheater during the summer season. This part also offers a Senior Ranger badge, open for adults. Inquire at the Pine Springs Visitor Center for details.
Kids in Guadalupe Mountain National Park
The Junior Ranger Program is the go-to program for families to learn more about a National Park. It’s free and takes about two hours to complete.
First, head to the Big Springs Visitor Center and pick up a Junior Ranger Booklet. Start your adventure by walking through the interpretive exhibits; I usually find answers to Junior Ranger questions there.
My kids love the badges park rangers present to them after they complete their booklets. Worth noting, this booklet has to be completed in the park. Rangers will not mail out badges.
Guadalupe Mountain National Park also offers a Junior Paleontologist Program. In this booklet, kids will learn about the fossils in the park.
BARK Program
Most National Parks welcome pets as long as they follow the BARK program’s principles. For more information, visit the park’s page for visiting with pets.
B–Bag waste and dispose of it in the trash
A–Always leash your dog for their safety and others
R–Respect wildlife
K–Know where you can go
Leashed pets can walk on the Pine Springs Campground connector trail. The Pinery Trail from the Visitor Center to the Butterfield Stage Station is also an option.
Picnicking in the Park
This park is located in a remote area of West Texas, so pack food and water for your trip. During my visit, we had a picnic at the Pine Springs Visitors Center.
Frijole Ranch Parking Lot has three large shade structures with picnic tables, water fountains and vault toilets.
Pratt Cabin
McKittrick Canyon
Dog Canyon
Gypsum Basin Dunes
There are two picnic areas outside the park’s boundary on U.S. Highway 62/180.
Camping in Guadalupe Mountain National Park
There are three developed campgrounds open year-round, one of which is a group site for horses. Pine Springs and Dog Canyon Campgrounds are reservable up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov.
Pine Springs Campground
- Year Round
- Reservations Recommended
- 35 sites, 20 tent-only and 13 RV sites and 2 group sites
- Potable water and toilets, No Showers
- No Dump Station, No RV hook-ups
- Charcoal, wood fires and propane firepits are prohibited. Camp stove only.
Dog Canyon Campground
- This campground is a two-hour drive from the Pine Springs area. Dog Canyon is located at 6,000 feet.
- Year Round
- Reservations Recommended
- 15 sites, 9 tent-only and 4 RV sites and 1 group site
- Potable water and toilets, No showers
- No Dump Station, No RV hook-ups
- Charcoal, wood fires and propane firepits are prohibited. Camp stove only.
Frijole Horse Corral Group Campsite
Located one mile from Pine Springs Campground and takes reservations. Campers will find potable water, vault toilets and a picnic table.
The Frijole Horse Corral has a capacity of 10 animals. This site includes a large gravel parking area for trailers.
Note: No gas is available for 35 miles in either direction from the visitor center.
Where’s Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Located at 400 Pine Canyon, Salt Flat, just south of the New Mexico border and 110 miles east of El Paso. Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The Big Springs Visitor Center is open Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $7 a person for 16+ for a seven-day pass.
