Guadalupe National Park - Guadalupe Peak Trail - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Guadalupe National Park - Guadalupe Peak Trail |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Texas |
| Nearby Town: | Carlsbad, NM |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | To Park: Headquarters Visitor Center at Pine Springs accessed via U.S. highway 62/180 between Carlsbad, NM and El Paso, TX. Trailhead @ Pine Springs Campground, just beyond the main Visitors Center and Park Headquarters at Pine Springs, just off of highway 62/180. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 8.40 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Pine Springs Campground |
| Trails Used: | Guadalupe Peak Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | None |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Guadalupe Mountains National Park HC 60 Box 400 Salt Flat, Texas 79847 915-828-3251 ~ 915-828-3269 (fax) Email: GUMO_SUPERINTENDENT@NPS.GO |
| Best Season: | Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | Hiked in April of 2004. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas at 8,749 ft. The trail is well marked and, while you gain 3,000 ft. in elevation, the climb, though constant, is rarely very steep. The trail ascends the south side of Pine Canyon and provides good views into the canyon and across to Hunter Peak (elev. 8,368 ft.) on the other side of the canyon. No permit is required for hikers but you are encouraged to sign in and out at the trail register at the trail head. A permit is required for backcountry camping and there is one campsite off this trail just about a mile before the summit. Hikers should expect that high winds may well be present, particularly at the higher altitudes, and approach cliff edges carefully. No water is available on the trail. The view from the summit is breathtaking, with other lesser peaks to the northeast and west and a one of a kind view to the south of El Capitan from above with the salt flats and desert beyond, some 3,000 to 5,000 ft. below. There is a register at the summit and a small monument placed by American Airlines in 1958 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental mail route. |
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