New: Trip Saver for Chrome. Save stays, trails and bookings from any website to My Trips.

Add to Chrome
Skip to content
My Trips Plan a trip

National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

  • South
  • 9 hikes
  • 28 places to see
  • 2 current alerts

Plan a Guadalupe Mountains trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Caution

    Devil's Hall is a Strenuous Hike

    The hike to Devil's Hall is rated as strenuous. The portion of the route in the wash requires rock scrambling and is dangerous when wet or if water is present. The wash surface is loose gravel and rocks and may be unstable.

  • Notice

    Park Store To Go Cashless

    Starting August 14th, 2025 the park store will go cashless. All major credit cards, debit cards and mobile electronic payments will be accepted.

From the National Park Service, as of November 1, 2026, 5:14 am. Check nps.gov before you go.

About Guadalupe Mountains

Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, an environmentally diverse collection of flora and fauna, and the stories of lives shaped through conflict, cooperation and survival.

From the National Park Service.

Region
South
State
Texas
Designation
National Park
Entrance fee
$10, per person
Hikes on this page
9
Places to see
28
Articles
3

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Guadalupe Mountains.

Entrance fees

  • $10 Per Person An entrance fee of $10 per person (16 years of age and older) is required; entrance fees/passes permit 1-7 consecutive days of use in this national park. Holders of the Annual, Senior, Military, 4th grade and Access Pass can bring in 3 adults free of charge u…
  • Free Education/Academic Groups

Passes

  • $35 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Pine Springs

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

The Pine Springs area, including the campground, visitor center, trailhead, and associated parking areas are open and accessible all of the time during normal operations. Camping is permitted in designated campsites only.

Weather and when to go

The Guadalupe Mountains are known for high winds year-round; gusts can reach 60MPH or higher. In winter the mountains experiences occasional, light snowfalls which seldom last more than a day. From May through October, temperatures vary with highs between 80F-100F+ with lows in the 40F-60F range. November to April is generally milder with highs in between 50F-70F with lows in the 30F-50F range. Elevations above 8,000’ will be about 10F cooler than headquarters, with corresponding wind-chill.

Getting there

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located on the north side of US Hwy 62/180. If you are traveling east from El Paso, TX, we are 110 miles East of the city. Follow US Hwy 62/180 North to the Pine Springs Visitor Center. If you are traveling from Van Horn, TX, you will travel north on US 54 and make a right-hand turn at the junction of US 62/180 to arrive at the park. If you are traveling west from Carlsbad, NM, you will travel on US Hwy 62/180 South and cross into Texas. Follow signs to the park.

Gateway towns
Carlsbad, NM · Van Horn, TX
Nearest airports
El Paso International Airport (ELP) · Midland International Airport (MAF)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
400 Pine Canyon, Salt Flat, TX 79847
Official site
nps.gov/gumo

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Guadalupe Mountains

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Where to stay for Guadalupe Mountains

The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.

National Park Getaways participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Things to do in Guadalupe Mountains

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Drive to Williams Ranch

    Scenic Driving · about 4.7 hours · Reservation required

    If you have a high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicle, the primitive dirt road to Williams Ranch provides a unique opportunity to get off the beaten path and get close to the rem…

  • Guadalupe Peak Viewpoint

    Scenic Driving · about 15 min

    This viewpoint, located just to the southeast of the park boundary alongside U.S. Highway 62/180 provides an excellent view to the summit of Guadalupe Peak.

  • Visit the historic Frijole Ranch

    Museum Exhibits · about 25 min

    Frijole Ranch is a delightful oasis on the edge of the dry, lower slopes of the Guadalupe escarpment which truly captures the rugged sprit of the American West. Today the Frijole…

  • The Notch

    Hiking · about 5.7 hours

    The hike to "the Notch" is a challenging day hike that proceeds through McKittrick Canyon to a dramatic viewpoint about half way up toward McKittrick Ridge.

  • Hiking off-trail

    Off-Trail Permitted Hiking · about 3.3 hours · Reservation required

    A new kind of experience in the Guadalupe Mountains starts where the maintained trail ends. However, off-trail hiking requires planning and preparation and carries a great deal of…

  • Backpacking Preparation

    Backcountry Camping · about 45 min · Reservation required

    A backpacking trip in Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness requires some prior planning and decision-making to ensure the best experience.

  • Know the Rules

    Hands-On · about 45 min

    There are a variety of rules and regulations that dictate how the parks must be managed. These laws and regulations help us protect park resources while also providing visitors wi…

  • McKittrick Canyon to Dog Canyon

    Hiking · about 7 hours

    The McKittrick Canyon Trail follows the floor of South McKittrick Canyon for four miles before climbing steeply to gain the ridge on the north side of the canyon. This is an arduo…

  • McKittrick Ridge

    Hiking · about 7 hours

    The journey to the top of McKittrick Ridge is "the toughest hike in Texas." This arduous hike is best enjoyed as an overnight hike allowing for rest, recovery, and fabulous night…

Trails

Places to see

Viewpoints

Natural features

History & culture

Visitor centers & lodging

Campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Reading about Guadalupe Mountains

All 3 articles

What to pack for Guadalupe Mountains

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

Worth having in the car whatever the park.

For this trip

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More parks in the South

More park sites in Texas

All 18 in Texas