Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in West Texas, is one of the lesser-known National Parks. Spending one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park gives you a great sampling of the park and you will have time for several hikes. Highlights of the park include Guadalupe Peak, El Capitan, Devil’s Hall, and the Salt Basin Dunes.
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History of Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Originally this area was full of hunters and gatherers. In the 1500s, the first Europeans arrived but did not completely settle in the area. The Mescalero Apaches lived in the area during the 1800s but came into conflict when many immigrants traveled through the area and the Civil War began.
In the late 1800s to 1900s, the area became more settled with ranch houses and a community began to pop up. Finally in 1972, Guadalupe Mountains became a National Park.
Best Time to Visit
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a great park to visit in the fall and the spring. During the summertime, the park gets very hot and there is little shade along the trails. In the wintertime, the area sometimes gets freeze warnings and snow which make it difficult to access the park.
How to Get to Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The closest airport to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is El Paso International Airport. Carlsbad also has a very small airport that has connections from Albuquerque. You could also include Guadalupe Mountains as part of a New Mexico road trip.
From El Paso take the 180/62 east for about 100 miles. From there, you will pass right by Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the left.
From Carlsbad take the 180/62 west for 48 miles. You will see the park on your right.
Transportation Around Guadalupe Mountains National Park
You will need a car to get to the different sections during your one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There is not a shuttle or any other public transportation options. Check out the park map here to help plan your journey.
Hours and Admission
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. The Visitors Centers may have restricted hours but you can enter the park at any time.
Admission into the park costs $10 per person or it is free with the America the Beautiful Pass. The fee is good for 7 days. There are also occasionally free days into the park as well.
Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best National Park hotels here!
Although you can camp in several sections of the park, there are not a ton of hotel options right near the park. I recommend staying in Carlsbad, New Mexico. There are several great hotel options here and it is also a great place to base yourself to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We stayed at the Home2Suites which was a great location and very nice.
What to See During One Day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers about 13 trails with over 80 miles of hiking. By spending one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park you can hit several of the main trails and see a good portion of the park.
Devil’s Hall Trail
Distance: 4.2 miles
Parking: Pine Springs Trailhead
Start your morning of one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park with a hike along the Devil’s Hall Trail. This 4.2-mile moderate out-and-back hike takes you through some different terrains and cool sites. The hike starts with a trek along a trail through the desert landscape. After that, you will have to hike about a mile though a rocky wash where you will have to climb around lots of boulders and rocks.
The end of the wash will land you at Hiker’s Staircase. This staircase involves climbing some slippery steps that are not in the best conditions. Plan to use your hands to help you climb up. Once you get through the Hiker’s Staircase, it is a short trek along a path to Devil’s Hall.
Devil’s Hall has massive rock walls and is similar to a slot canyon that you can walk through. Once here, you turn around and head back. This has been one of the cooler hikes I have done and it was not too difficult. It should take you 2-3 hours to complete.
Parking can be tough to find at this trailhead, so you can always do this hike in the afternoon if there is no parking.
McKittrick Canyon to Pratt Cabin
Distance: 4.8 miles
Parking: McKittrick Canyon Trailhead
After lunch, head to McKittrick Canyon for another neat hike. This trail has several stops along the way, so it is up to your comfort level how far you would like to go. The shortest route is the 4.8 mile out-and-back moderate trail. This route takes hikers to Pratt Cabin.
The trail takes you along a stream through the desert to some woodlands. The trail is pretty smooth with not too much elevation gain. Once at the Pratt Cabin, the inside is sometimes open to visit. There are also plenty of picnic tables and sitting areas to enjoy a snack or lunch. It should take about 2 hours round trip to venture to Pratt Cabin.
From Pratt Cabin, you can choose to turn back or head to the Grotto and Hunter Line Cabin. It is about another mile further to reach this spot. Looking back, I wish we had continued onto the Grotto as the pictures of it look really awesome. Add another hour to your timeline to reach the Grotto.
For those looking for an entire day hike, you can continue even further to the McKittrick Ridge Campground. This is a 15-mile round trip hike with lots of elevation gain, so plan accordingly if you choose this route.
Manzanita Spring Trail
Distance: 0.4-miles out and back
Trailhead: Frijole Ranch
To finish up your one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, head to Frijole Ranch. This area is an oasis in the vast desert. Here you can wander through an old ranch and look at a few exhibits. There is a small museum open from 8am-4:30pm most days.
Take a short walk out to the Manzanita Spring to see where the ranch sourced their water from. It is only 0.4-miles out and back along a paved trail.
More Than One Day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
If you have the time, I recommend spending more than one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are some pretty cool hikes to go on that you cannot do all in one day.
The following are other popular hikes to do during one day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. You can see a complete list of trails here.
Guadalupe Peak Trail
Distance: 8.4 miles
Trailhead: Pine Springs
This 8.4-mile round trip hike takes you to the top of Guadalupe Peak also known as the top of Texas. This is a very strenuous hike that requires about 3,000 feet of elevation gain to get to the 8,751 foot peak. Some areas also take you past exposed cliffs, so it is not a good trail for those with a fear of heights. This will take hikes 6 to 8 hours to complete.
El Capitan/Salt Basin Overlook Trail
Distance: 11.3 miles
Trailhead: Pine Springs
This 11.3-mile round trip hike takes you through the desert to the base of El Capitan, one of the mountains in the Guadalupe range. From here, the trail takes you to the Salt Basin Overlook where you can see views of the Salt Basin. Make sure to bring lots of water as this hike will take 6 to 8 hours to complete.
Smith Spring Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles
Trailhead: Frijole Ranch
This easy 2.3-mile loop trail takes you to the shady oasis of Smith Spring. Along the way you might see a bit of nature and animals as well as a small waterfall. Plan to spend an hour or two on this hike.
Visit the Salt Basin Dunes
Along the western part of the park lie the Salt Basin Dunes. Similar to White Sands National Park in New Mexico, these sand dunes are made up of gypsum, which give it the white color. The dunes are about 30 miles from the Pines Spring Visitors Center.
Once at the trailhead, visitors can take a one mile hike out to the dunes. Make sure to pay attention to your surroundings and follow the trail so you do not get lost.
Other activities at Guadalupe Mountain National Park include horseback riding, stargazing, and birdwatching. During the fall, it is also a great time to see the fall colors.
Tips for Spending One Day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Wear layers! This is the desert so the weather can go from cold to hot quickly.
- Bring lots of water. Even if it is cold out, it is very dry and dusty.
- Pack a lunch as there are no food options close to the park.
- Wear shoes you do not mind getting dusty or slightly wet. Some hikes require you to cross a small stream or two.
- Sunglasses are needed to help reflect the sun.
One day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park makes for a fun and interesting experience. This park is a great addition to a New Mexico or Texas road trip and a hidden gem of the National Parks. A lot of people pair this park with a visit to Big Bend National Park in Southern Texas. No matter what, you are in for a great experience.
2 thoughts on “One Day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park: A Hidden Gem in West Texas”
I can’t say that I had heard of this NP until now. Those trails look fantastic. Love the look of Devil’s Hall Trail. Another great NP added to our list!
It was such a fun national
Park and a hidden gem for sure!