Planning a trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Information
Contact Guadalupe Mountains National Park, 400 Pine Canyon Rd., Salt Flat, TX 79847-9400 (tel. 915/828-3251; www.nps.gov/gumo). Books and maps can be ordered from the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association, 727 Carlsbad Caverns Hwy. (P.O. Box 1417), Carlsbad, NM 88220 (tel. 575/785-2486; www.ccgma.org).
Because the park's backcountry trails often crisscross each other and can be confusing, rangers strongly recommend that those planning any serious hiking carry topographical maps. An excellent book for hikers is Hiking Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, 2nd edition (Falcon Press, 2005), by Bill Schneider, which was published in partnership with the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association and is keyed to the Trails Illustrated topographical map of the park. Also very useful is a shorter and less expensive guide, the tried-and-true Trails of the Guadalupes (Environmental Associates, 1992), by Don Kurtz and William D. Goran. These are often available at the visitor center bookstore or from the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association.
A small seasonal park newspaper contains pertinent up-to-the-minute information for visitors. It is available free at the visitor center.
Visitor Centers
Park headquarters and the main visitor center are at Pine Springs just off U.S. 62/180. There are three other access points on this side of the park: Frijole Ranch, about 1 1/2 miles east of Pine Springs and a mile north of the highway; McKittrick Canyon (day use only), about 7 miles east and 4 miles north of the highway; and Williams Ranch, about 8 miles south of Pine Springs and 8 miles north of the highway on a four-wheel-drive road.
The Pine Springs Visitor Center, open daily year-round (closed Dec 25), has natural history exhibits, a bookstore, and an introductory slide program. McKittrick Canyon has a visitor contact station with outdoor exhibits and a slide program on the history, geology, and natural history of the canyon.
On the north side of the park is Dog Canyon Ranger Station (tel. 574/981-2418) at the end of N. Mex. 137, about 70 miles from Carlsbad and 110 miles from park headquarters. Information, restrooms, and drinking water are available.
Fees & Permits
The entrance fee (collected at trail heads) is $5 per person, free for children under 16, and good for 7 days. Camping at developed campgrounds costs $8 per night. Backcountry camping is free, but a permit is required. Corrals are available for those who bring their horses to ride in the park (call the park for reservations); permits are required for horseback riding. All permits are available at the Pine Springs Visitor Center and Dog Canyon Ranger Station, and must be requested in person, either the day before or the day of use.
Special Regulations & Warnings
Visitors to McKittrick Canyon, a day-use area, must stay on the trail; entering the stream is not permitted. The McKittrick Canyon entrance gate opens at 8am daily and closes at 4:30pm during standard time and at 6pm when daylight saving time is in effect.
Neither wood nor charcoal fires are allowed anywhere in the park. Horses are prohibited in the backcountry overnight.
When to Go
In general, summers in the Guadalupe Mountains are hot, with highs in the 80s and 90s (mid-20s and lower 30s Celsius) and lows in the 60s (teens Celsius). Winters are mild, with highs in the 50s and 60s (lower teens Celsius) and lows in the upper 20s and 30s (just below zero Celsius). October tends to have the best weather, but sudden and extreme changes in the weather can occur at any time. In winter and spring, high winds can whip down the mountain slopes in gusts reading 100 mph, and on hot summer days, thunderstorms can blow up quickly. The sun is warm even in winter, and summer nights are generally cool, no matter how hot the afternoon. Clothing that can be layered is best, comfortable and sturdy walking and hiking shoes are a must, a hat and sunscreen are highly recommended, and plenty of drinking water is essential for hikers.
Seasonal Events
McKittrick Canyon's beautiful display of fall colors usually takes place between late October and early November. It varies, however, so call before going. On weekend evenings in the summer, rangers offer programs at the campground amphitheater.
Avoiding the Crowds
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of America's less visited national parks, with attendance of only about 200,000 each year. This is partly because it is primarily a wilderness park, where you'll have to tackle rugged hiking trails to get to the best vistas. But it's also out of the way and somewhat inconvenient -- the closest lodging is 35 miles away from the park's main section. In fact, about the only time the park might be considered even slightly crowded is during spring break at Texas and New Mexico colleges, usually in March, when students bring their backpacks and hit the trails. Quite a few families visit during summer, although the park is not usually crowded even then. Visitation drops a lot once schools open in late August.
An exception is McKittrick Canyon, renowned throughout the Southwest for its beautiful fall colors, which are at their best in late October and early November. The one road into McKittrick Canyon will be busy then, but once you get out on the trails, you can distance yourself from others.
Getting There
Located on the border of New Mexico and Texas, the park is 55 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico, along U.S. 62/180. From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40 for 59 miles to Clines Corners, turn south and take U.S. 285 for 216 miles to the city of Carlsbad, then head southwest 55 miles on U.S. 62/180 to the park entrance at Pine Springs. From El Paso, drive northeast 110 miles on U.S. 62/180 to Pine Springs.
The Nearest Airport -- Air travelers can fly to Cavern City Air Terminal (tel. 575/887-3060), at the south edge of the city of Carlsbad, which has commercial service from Albuquerque on New Mexico Airlines (tel. 888/564-6119; www.flynma.com), plus Enterprise car rentals.
The nearest major airport is El Paso International (tel. 915/780-4749; www.elpasointernationalairport.com), in El Paso, just north of I-10, with service from most major airlines and car-rental companies.
Getting Around
The Guadalupe Mountains are not the place for the vehicle bound. No paved scenic drives traverse the park; roads here are simply a means of getting to historical sites and trail heads.
