Guadalupe Mountains National Park

💨

Extreme

Wind risk

🎫

$10/person

Entry fee

🏕

2 areas

Campgrounds

🏔

8,751 ft

Highest in Texas

🌙

Remote

Dark skies

📷

1 live

Camera

⚠️Extreme Wind SafetyDedicated wind page▾

💨 This is one of the windiest national parks in the system — NPS maintains a dedicated wind-safety page with its own hazard scale: 30 mph starts affecting balance, 40 mph makes walking difficult, 50 mph is dangerous even for experienced hikers, 55+ mph means turn back immediately, and 70 mph gusts are described by NPS as "the equivalent of an F1 tornado." A documented visitor fatality on Guadalupe Peak has been linked to a High Wind Warning. Heat/dehydration (1 gallon water/person/day) and sudden afternoon lightning on exposed ridges are the other major hazards. NPS wind safety info ↗

Quick Stats

Highest Point (Guadalupe Peak)8,751 ft

El Capitan8,085 ft

Established1972

TimezoneMountain (unlike most of TX)

🪧Park Entrance & FeesPine Springs · $10/person▾

Main Entrance Usually Open

Pine Springs, via US-62/180

The park's main hub — visitor center, Guadalupe Peak & Devil's Hall trailheads, and Pine Springs Campground, roughly 55 miles southwest of Carlsbad, NM.

💡 Despite being in Texas, the park runs on Mountain Time, not Central — a genuine and easy-to-miss quirk. Cell service is unreliable throughout.

NPS directions ↗

Note Unusual Fee Model

Per-person, not per-vehicle

Unlike most national parks, Guadalupe Mountains charges $10 per person (16+) rather than a flat vehicle rate — no separate motorcycle or vehicle fee tier.

NPS fee details ↗

Entry Fees

Per Person (16+)$10

Guadalupe Mtns Annual Pass$35/yr (covers 4 adults)

America the Beautiful$80/yr

No timed entry · No visitor caps

🏔Guadalupe Peak & El Capitan8,751 ft▾

Guadalupe Peak Trail Strenuous · Full Day ▾

Summit8,751 ft — highest point in Texas

Distance8.4 mi round trip

Elevation Gain~3,000 ft

Time6–10 hrs, no water on trail

El Capitan Roadside Landmark ▾

Elevation8,085 ft

NotesA distinct peak from Guadalupe Peak, forming the dramatic cliff face visible from US-62/180

🍁McKittrick CanyonGate 8am–5pm▾

🍁 Famous for fall color from bigtooth maples, oaks & Texas madrones — a rare sight in the Chihuahuan Desert. Pratt Cabin sits about 2 miles into the canyon. The entrance gate on US-62/180 is locked every evening — day-use only, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Mountain Time, daily. Plan your exit accordingly. NPS McKittrick Canyon info ↗

🏕Campground Availability2 areas▾

Pine Springs Campground Reservation Only ▾

Sites~35 (20 tent, 13 RV, 2 group)

LocationAt the main Pine Springs entrance/trailhead

Book on Recreation.gov ↗

Dog Canyon Campground Reservation Only ▾

Sites~14 (9 tent, 4 RV, 1 group)

AccessRemote — reached via New Mexico, NOT from Pine Springs directly

Notes6,300 ft elevation, cooler & far quieter than Pine Springs

📍Landmarks & Trails3 stops▾

Pine Springs Area2 stops▾

Devil's Hall Trail4.2 mi round trip, ~548 ft gain · rock-scrambling in a wash to a narrow limestone slot — dangerous when wet3–5 hrs

Frijole Ranch History Museum~1.5 mi from the Visitor Center · historic ranch buildings & picnic area~1 hr

Remote / Detached Unit1 stop▾

Salt Basin DunesDetached gypsum-dune unit on the park's remote west side · day-use only, sunrise–30 min after sunset · access road turns dangerously slippery when wet · no campingDay-use only

🌙Stargazing & Night SkyNot yet certified▾

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Guadalupe Mountains does not currently hold a confirmed International Dark Sky Park designation, but its remote location far from any city, high desert elevation, and dry air make for exceptional, largely light-pollution-free night skies. NPS night sky info ↗

📷Live Camera Feed

Refreshing in 60s

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (915) 828-3251 · Mailing Address: 400 Pine Canyon, Salt Flat, TX 79847 · Official NPS contact page ↗