Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Texas's highest peak and a fossil reef in the desert.

Guadalupe Peak is the hike people train for. McKittrick Canyon turns gold in autumn. This is a trail park with limited services and serious sun Texas.

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Location

31.92° N, 104.89° WOpen in OpenStreetMap

Must-see spots

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Best time to visit

October–April; November for McKittrick color

Trip planner

A Guadalupe Mountains National Park itinerary

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Field guide

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a U.S. National Park in Texas. Texas's highest peak and a fossil reef in the desert.

When to go

October–April; November for McKittrick color is the window most visitors aim for. Shoulder seasons mean fewer cars at trailheads. Winter can close roads; summer can fill parking lots by 8 a.m. Check NPS alerts the night before you drive in.

How to see it

Start with guadalupe Peak if you start before dawn. Then mcKittrick Canyon in fall. If you have a second day, devils Hall for a shorter stone walk. Keep one spare hour for a night in the Pine Springs area.

Park practicalities

An America the Beautiful pass covers entry at most national parks. Timed-entry reservations are used at several busy parks in peak season — book those before lodging. Wildlife has the right of way; 25 yards from most animals, 100 yards from bears and wolves.

Pack this in your notes

No gas, no lodging inside. Stay in Whites City or Carlsbad and carry all your water.
Download offline maps. Cell service drops in most parks.
Bring layers. Elevation and wind change the day faster than the forecast.
Enter the park early. Famous lots and shuttles fill first.

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Traveler reviews

Rate and review

June L.

8/10

Start early in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Devils Hall for a shorter stone walk. A night in the Pine Springs area. Give Guadalupe Mountains National Park days, not hours, and go in October–April; November for McKittrick color. The trailhead line is the tax; the quiet after it is the park.

Sep 6, 2025

Ben R.

10/10

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is bigger than the postcard

McKittrick Canyon in fall. Texas's highest peak and a fossil reef in the desert. Crowds thin if you are moving at first light. October–April; November for McKittrick color is the window I would book again.

Aug 5, 2025

Avery C.

10/10

Start early in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Peak if you start before dawn. McKittrick Canyon in fall. Give Guadalupe Mountains National Park days, not hours, and go in October–April; November for McKittrick color. The trailhead line is the tax; the quiet after it is the park.

Jul 4, 2025