Location: Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located right here in Culberson County on U.S. 62/180, some 70 miles north of Van Horn. Take State Highway 54 north to U.S. 62/180 along one of the most scenic of the Texas Mountain Trail routes.
The visitor center at Pine Springs has restrooms, drinking water, brochures, books, trail guides, maps, exhibits, a slide program, and schedules of activities. The visitor center and park headquarters near Pine Springs Campground are open daily except December 25.
Backpacking: There are 10 backcountry campgrounds for backpackers; pick up a free permit at the visitor center or Dog Canyon. No water is available in the backcountry. Cooking is allowed only on campstoves. Pets are prohibited.
Camping: Camping is permitted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis at Pine Springs and Dog Canyon Campgrounds. Both have water, fully accessible restrooms, tables, and sites for tents and recreational vehicles.
4-Wheel-Drive Trips: The seven-mile road to historic Williams Ranch is open only to 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The road partially follows the historic Butterfield Trail. To visit, borrow a key to the entrance gates at the visitor center.
Park Trails: The park’s 80 miles of trails offer a wide range of opportunities for exploring. Hikers and horseback riders are welcome. Trails vary greatly in length and difficulty. Trails leading to the highcountry are steep and rough; the ascent may be as much as 3,000 feet. Trails in canyons and other lowlands are less strenuous. Some trails are well maintained; others are primative and simply marked with rock cairns. A topographic map is essential for longer trips. These are available at Pine Springs, McKittrick Canyon and Dog Canyon. Pets and bikes are prohibited on trails or in the backcountry.
McKittrick Canyon: Visit this spot for its variety of plant and animal life, the granduer of its rugged landscape, and the peace of its shady creek. The canyon is open for day use only. The trails range up to 7 miles round-trip. Historic Pratt Cabin lies 2.3 miles into the canyon. Stay on the trail and out of the fragile stream.
The Pinery: Here are the ruins of a stagecoach station, one of many along the Butterfield Overland Mail route in the mid-1800s. The paved trail, 0.7 mile round-trip, is wheelchair accessible.
Smith and Manzanita Springs: These two small oases attract birds and other wildlife. Nearby is the 19th-century Frijole Ranch. The trail is 2.3 miles round-trip.
Williams Ranch: The historic ranch site lies on the remote west side of the Guadalupes in the shadow of the high rock cliffs. The trail is 18 miles round-trip. See “4-Wheel-Drive Trips” for information on the road to the ranch.
The Bowl: This is a high-country forest of pine and Douglas fir 2,500 feet above the surrounding desert. The shortest trail is 9 miles round-trip.
Guadalupe Peak: Spectacular views reward those who reach the summit of 8,479 foot Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in the state of Texas. The trail is 8.4 miles round-trip.
The Desert: The bloom of a cactus flower....the thunder-and-light show of a summer storm....the howl of a coyote at dusk....a lizard basking in the warm morning sun.... Surrounding the Guadalupe Mountains are the sparsely populated plains of the Chihuahuan Desert. This vast arid realm extends south for hundreds of miles. Rainfall averages between 10 and 20 inches per year. In the summer, temperatures rise above the 90 degree F mark.
The Canyons: The reflection of tall trees in a sparkling pool....rugged walls of rock sheltering a streamside woodland....a mule deer browsing quietly at the edge of a patch of woods....brightly colored autumn leaves rustling in the wind.... The deep, sheer-sided canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains display an impressive diversity of plants and animals. This variety of life is displayed in its greatest splendor in McKittrick Canyon, which has been described as “the most beautiful spot in Texas.”
The Highlands: The solitude of a mountain-top pine-fir forest....the bugle of a bull elk in autumn....sweeping views from rocky 8,000 foot-high peaks....tracks that tell of a mountain lion passing.... In the mountain highcountry of the Guadalupes thrives a dense forest of ponderosa pine, southwestern white pine, Douglas fir, and aspen. This conifer forest is a relict of about 15,000 years ago when the prevailing climate throughout Texas was cooler and moister.
For more information write or e-mail us at:
HC 60, Box 400
Salt Flat, TX 79847-9400
(915) 828-3251
fax (915) 828-3269
e-mail: gumo_superintendent@nps.gov
See the advertiser's full web page at http://www.nps.gov/gumo.