favorite itinerary: things to do in guadalupe mountains national park
kiddo hiking to smith spring in guadalupe mountains national park
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guadalupe mountains national park was a big surprise for me. one of the least visited national parks, i found guadalupe mountains to be quite beautiful with very interesting geologic history.
guadalupe mountains national park is another of those parks that i wish we had the opportunity to spend more time in. there’s a lot to see and some really big hikes in guadalupe mountains that would be a thrill to complete - including climbing guadalupe peak, the highest natural point in the entire state of texas!
alas, the weather was not in our favor. with elevations between 3,000 and 8,000+ feet, there can be a lot of weather variation in the park. high winds are typical through the fall and winter and, ultimately, that’s what bested us. if you’re looking for the best time of year to visit, the weather in guadalupe mountains is more mild in spring and summer.
land of the mescalero apache
the land presently known as guadalupe mountains national park is the indigenous homeland of the mescalero apache. (the mescalero apache also inhabited the land that became white sands national park and carlsbad caverns national park.)
“traditionally, when a mescalero apache man married, he moved in with his wife’s family. while mescalero society did have gender roles, there was close collaboration between men and women. men helped women during agave roasts. women accompanied men on buffalo hunts.
women traditionally gathered and prepared food in mescalero apache society. to keep her family fed, a mescalero woman needed a deep understanding of the resources and cycles of her land. this knowledge of local plants meant that women sometimes held roles as healers. many of the great shamans in mescalero stories are women.”
what to bring to guadalupe mountains national park
layers: one of the biggest climate factors in the park is elevation. there are big shifts in the temperature throughout the park, based on where you are and what the elevation is. if you’re exploring multiple areas or doing one of the multiple hikes that climb in elevation, it’s best to be prepared with layers.
hiking poles & sturdy boots: it’s pretty rocky on the trails and areas can get muddy and slick, so a good idea to have both good hiking boots and a set of hiking poles. we’ve used these hiking poles in all conditions. kiddo currently wears these hiking boots. i have high arches and am always alternating between boots. my two favorite pairs these days are these and these.
sun protection: regardless of time of year or elevation, sun is abundant in guadalupe mountains.
sunscreen: this one is our favorite. it’s spf 50 and we like the mousse because it’s easy to apply, but you can also get the lotion or the mist.
water bottles: kiddo uses this camelpak on all our hikes. my current favorite water bottle is this one from wondery.
other sun protection: we recently purchased this buff for kiddo as a multi-use item. it protects his neck from sun but can also be worn in a myriad of ways, based on need. we most often use it as a headband! i wear a wide brim hat that i purchased from a park gift shop years ago, but similar styles can be found here and here.
a note about camping in guadalupe mountains national park
guadalupe mountains has three developed campgrounds open year round which are open to tent or vehicle camping, including the frijole horse corral campground for horse campers.
the pine springs campground is located near the visitor center and has basic amenities including pit toilets and utility sinks. the dog canyon campground is much more secluded and quite a distance from the visitor center. it does have restrooms as well as 4 designated spots for rv campers. there are no showers in the park.
guadalupe mountains national park itinerary
due to weather - extremely high winds - our trip to guadalupe mountains national park was cut short. be prepared for shifting weather conditions no matter the time of year. we ended up postponing for three days until we couldn’t any longer. it meant we missed out on some of the big hikes we had planned, but we did enjoy a sunny (albeit it briskly chilly!) morning in the park. below is our itinerary for one day in guadalupe mountains national park.
i’ve also included a few other things i wish we had time for. something to consider if you have two days in guadalupe mountains national park or more!
one day in guadalupe mountains national park
visitor center: make sure to start your day at one of the park’s two visitor centers to check the latest conditions. again, conditions can shift quickly and vary throughout the park, so you’ll want to latest information on the trails you’re planning to visit.
hike devil’s hall: this strenuous, 4.2 mile hike takes visitors through a natural staircase between steep canyon walls. there is an incredible amount of scrambling, as well as a lot of loose rocks and debris. make sure you have plenty of time, water and snacks to tackle this incredible hike!
visit frijole ranch: after your big trek, head over to frijole ranch for a picnic lunch. while there, check out the frijole ranch history museum, which gives a great overview of the human history of the park. even if the museum is closed, you can walk the grounds and peek into the one-room school house to imagine what life was like here 150 years ago.
hike smith and manzanita springs: just beyond the frijole ranch history museum is the trailhead for the smith spring loop that also takes you to manzanita spring. the 2.3 mile hike has beautiful scenery and gives a good sense for the ecology of the park. the springs are quite different and both are fascinating and lovely in their own ways. i would consider this trail a *do not miss for this park!
if you have more time in guadalupe mountains national park
here’s a list of places we wish we could have visited if we had more time in the park.
hike guadalupe peak - this day trek up the to the highest natural point in texas is a bucket list item for us!
visit one of the many viewpoints - there’s a lot to see in this park, including several peaks that each have their own viewpoints. of note - guadalupe mountains have their own el capitan! learn more about the viewpoint here.
take a scenic drive to dog canyon - this part of the park is more remote and the one-way drive through the chihuahuan desert takes 2 hours. you could start your morning with a hike in pine springs and then spend the afternoon exploring dog canyon.
visit the salt basin dunes - this area of the park is unfrequented, but gives the opportunity to climb white gypsum sand dunes with incredible views of both the guadalupe mountains and el capitan. if you have an extra day to explore, this would make a memorable adventure!
i hope this guide to guadalupe mountains national park inspires you to go out wild and visit this hidden gem tucked away in the far west corner of texas. there are so many surprises to uncover!