The Guadalupes rise out of the West Texas desert like the prow of a ship, and that prow, El Capitan, is part of a fossil reef from an ancient sea. Above it sits Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. Most people come for one hard day on the peak, but the hidden canyons, desert springs and high pine forest make two days easy to fill. Fall is the best season, when temperatures are mild and McKittrick Canyon's maples turn red. Spring brings fierce winds, and summer afternoons on the lower trails get very hot.
TRAILS
1 OF 6
Guadalupe Peak
Difficulty
Hard
Length
8.4 mi
Elevation gain
3,000 ft
Pine Springs · Pine Springs trailhead — Stand on the roof of Texas at 8,751 feet. The trail switchbacks hard for the first mile and a half, eases through a forest of pine and fir, then crosses a small bridge before the rocky final push. From the top you look straight down on El Capitan and out across salt flats that run to the horizon. Plan six to eight hours and start early.
⚠︎ High winds are common, especially in spring. Turn back if gusts make the footing unsafe.
Photo: Adavyd, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 6
Devil's Hall
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.2 mi
Elevation gain
550 ft
Pine Springs · Pine Springs trailhead — A walk up Pine Spring Canyon that turns into a boulder hop. The first mile follows a trail above the wash; the second is in the wash itself, past a natural staircase of stacked rock ledges to a narrow hallway of cliffs. Route finding and some scrambling are part of the fun. The smooth limestone is slick even when dry.
⚠︎ Don't go in wet weather; flash floods move through the wash.
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 6
McKittrick Canyon to the Grotto
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
6.8 mi
Elevation gain
300 ft
McKittrick Canyon · McKittrick Canyon trailhead — A green surprise in the desert. A spring-fed creek runs through the canyon, lined with maples, oaks and walnuts that blaze red and gold in fall. The trail passes the stone Pratt Cabin at 2.3 miles, a good turnaround, then continues to the Grotto, a small cave full of formations. Stay out of the creek; it's protected.
⚠︎ Day use only. The gate opens at 8 a.m. and closes in the late afternoon or evening depending on season.
Photo: Leaflet, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 6
The Bowl
Difficulty
Hard
Length
8.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
2,500 ft
Pine Springs · Pine Springs trailhead — Climb out of the desert into a high basin of Douglas fir and ponderosa pine that feels like a different state. The usual loop goes up the Tejas Trail, circles the Bowl and drops steeply down Bear Canyon. Add the short side trip to Hunter Peak for a view of Guadalupe Peak across the canyon. Good knees help on the descent.
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 6
Smith Spring
Difficulty
Easy
Length
2.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
400 ft
Frijole Ranch · Frijole Ranch trailhead — A gentle loop from the old Frijole Ranch house to a shady spring where water trickles over moss and ferns under big oaks. Manzanita Spring, a short walk in, is a good spot to see birds and deer. It's a fine choice for a family or a windy day. Stop at the ranch museum on the way out.
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 6
Salt Basin Dunes
Difficulty
Easy
Length
3 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
West side · Salt Basin Dunes trailhead — White gypsum dunes pile up below the park's western cliffs, and almost nobody comes here. The trail crosses flat desert for a mile and a half, then you can wander the dunes freely. Sunset paints the escarpment pink. It's a long drive, so make it a half-day trip.
⚠︎ Day use only. Reached on unpaved roads that can turn impassable after rain; no water or shade.
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Guadalupe Mountains trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.