Guadalupe Mountains
Texas's highest peaks rise from an ancient fossil reef above the Chihuahuan Desert
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- Free entry
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 86,367 acres
Guadalupe Mountains Weather Now
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The Guadalupe Mountains are the exposed part of the Capitan Reef, one of the best-preserved fossil reefs on Earth, built by sponges and algae in a tropical sea about 260 million years ago. Uplift and erosion left the reef standing high above the Chihuahuan Desert, topped by Guadalupe Peak and the cliff of El Capitan. The park was authorized in 1966 and established in 1972, partly from land donated by geologist Wallace Pratt. It protects four of the five highest peaks in Texas.
This is a hiking park with no scenic drive, so most of what it offers is on foot. Trails climb from desert scrub to forests of pine and Douglas fir in the high country known as The Bowl. McKittrick Canyon surprises many visitors with bigtooth maples and a flowing stream in the middle of the desert. Strong winds are common, and gusts above 50 mph can sweep the high trails.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- October and November bring fall color in McKittrick Canyon and mild hiking weather, and March through May is also pleasant, though windy.
- How long to stay
- One day for a big hike, two or three days to add McKittrick Canyon and Dog Canyon.
- Getting there
- El Paso (ELP) is about 1 hour 45 minutes west, and Midland (MAF) is about 3 hours east; Carlsbad Caverns is about 40 minutes north.
- Wildlife
- Look for mule deer, elk, javelina, gray foxes, roadrunners and rattlesnakes, with black bears and mountain lions rarely seen.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Carlsbad (opens in a new tab)New Mexico
- Hotels in White's City (opens in a new tab)New Mexico
- Hotels in Van Horn (opens in a new tab)Texas
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Guadalupe Mountains
- Hydration packThere is no water on the trails and the peak hike takes 6 to 8 hours.
- Windproof shellGusts over 50 mph are common on Guadalupe Peak and the ridges.
- Trekking polesThey help on the long rocky descent from Guadalupe Peak.
- Sturdy hiking bootsTrails are rocky limestone with loose footing.
- Sun hat and sunscreenDesert sun is intense with little shade below the high country.
A first day, start to finish
- Pine Springs Visitor Center
- Sunrise start on the Guadalupe Peak Trail
- Picnic at Frijole Ranch
- Smith Spring loop
- Sunset view of El Capitan from the highway pullout
Don't miss
- Guadalupe PeakAn 8.4-mile round-trip hike with about 3,000 feet of climbing to the 8,751-foot summit, the highest point in Texas.
- El CapitanThe sheer limestone cliff at the south end of the range, best seen from the Highway 62/180 pullouts or the El Capitan Trail.
- McKittrick CanyonA day-use canyon with a spring-fed stream and maples that turn red and gold in late October and early November; Pratt Cabin is 4.8 miles round trip.
- Devil's HallA 4.2-mile round-trip rocky canyon hike from Pine Springs to a natural staircase and narrow hallway of rock walls.
- Frijole Ranch and Smith SpringA historic ranch house museum and an easy 2.3-mile loop to a shaded desert spring.
Know before you go
Do
- Start Guadalupe Peak early and carry plenty of water, since there is none on the trail.
- Set your watch to Mountain Time, because phones can show the wrong time here.
- Fill your gas tank in Carlsbad, White's City or Van Horn before you arrive.
Don't
- Hike exposed ridges when winds top 50 mph or storms are building.
- Linger in McKittrick Canyon past 5 pm, when the gate is locked.
- Bring pets on the trails, where they are not allowed.
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but several areas are day-use only. Pine Springs Visitor Center is open daily 8 am to 4 pm, and the McKittrick Canyon gate is open 8 am to 5 pm and locked each evening. The park runs on Mountain Time, even though most of Texas uses Central Time.
On fall color weekends, arrive at the McKittrick Canyon gate right at 8 am, since its 40-space lot fills fast.Trekker's tip