Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the four highest peaks in Texas and the largest exposed fossil reef on Earth. In February we spent the perfect weekend in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, hiking and exploring the park. The weather was beautiful at a comfortable 75 degrees and sunny.
My husband and I took a southwest road trip to visit three national parks. Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands.
We flew into El Paso and spent the perfect weekend in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
But we forgot two very important things before we hit the road. Road trip snacks, and gas. We had 3/4 of a tank and figured we’d gas up when we got to our accommodations. Big mistake.
The two-hour drive to Guadalupe Mountains National Park from El Paso took us down to 1/4 tank and there wasn’t a gas station unless we backtracked 45 minutes to Dell City.
So after our day in the park, we drove there to get gas. Had no idea that it was a pinprick of a town with no food, no restaurants, and – no gas. The first gas station was out of gas and the second only took Master Card – we had a Visa and an American Express.
The next gas station was 79 miles away in Whites City back the way we just came. We pulled in on fumes.
How to Get There
By Plane
The closest commercial airport is El Paso, Texas.
By Car
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in far West Texas on U.S. Highway 62/180. The park is 110 miles east of El Paso, Texas, 56 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. There are no bus services to the park.
There is no gasoline available in the park. The nearest gas stations are Van Horn (60 miles south), and El Paso (120 miles west). If you’re traveling from New Mexico, Whites City is the last place that offers gas, food and ice. Meaning there is no gas for 35 miles in either direction from the visitor center. Learn from our mistakes!
Entrance Fee
The main visitor center is Pine Springs which is open daily. Head inside to pay the entrance and camping fees, and overnight permits, tour the museum, buy souvenirs from the park store, and pick up a map of the park.
America the Beautiful Pass = Free after purchase of $80 (recommended if you plan on visiting the nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park)
Standard Entrance Pass = $10
Best Time to Visit
From late September to early November, you’ll experience the fall colors and larger crowds. Spring is when the desert comes to life, and is also a busy time due to the comfortable weather. Summers can get very hot in the desert, and depending on your elevation it can be snowy or beautiful in the winter.
Where to Stay
There are VERY limited options on where to stay in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The closest hotel to the park is Whites City Cavern Inn.
We made reservations at Cactus Corner, a cute tiny home. But because of the gas decable + (Apple Maps F’ing us over) – we ended up canceling our reservation and staying at Whites City Cavern Inn.
There’s also a yurt nearby that you can stay in.
The Perfect Weekend in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
There’s one main road running through Guadalupe Mountains National Park. So people tend to have similar itineraries. The main difference is which trail(s) you want to hike.
The park offers a range of difficulty levels so talk with a park ranger to determine which trails are best for you. Depending on how long/far you want to hike is going to determine how many days you spend in the park. We spent a weekend in Guadalupe Mountains NP and did four hikes throughout the park.
Hiking Trails
Guadalupe Peak
By far the best activity in the park is hiking the trails. The most popular trail is to the top of Guadalupe Peak. At 8751 feet, it’s the highest point in Texas! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do that one. But it’s a strenuous, steep, and long trek. It takes 6-8 hours to cover 8 miles roundtrip with about 3000 feet of elevation gain.
Devil’s Hall
This strenuous hike to Devil’s Hall starts at the Pine Springs Trailhead. At 4.2 miles round-trip it will probably take you anywhere between 3-5 hours depending on how fast you move. After the first mile, the trail enters a rocky wash where you’ll be scrambling across large boulders. The hike leads to a natural rock staircase that connects to a “hallway” formed by steep canyon walls.
Pratt Cabin
The trail to Pratt Cabin and back is 4.8 miles and takes 2-4 hours. Along this hike, you will cross the stream before arriving at the historic cabin. You can peek through the windows to see the inside and enjoy a snack or lunch at the picnic tables. If you continue along the trail you will get to The Grotto.
The Grotto
Stretch out your day hike into McKittrick Canyon by hiking 1.3 miles from Pratt Cabin to the Grotto . The roundtrip takes between 3-5 hours from the Visitor Center and back. Elevation gain doubles as you travel further up the canyon, but is still mild at less than 600 feet gained from the trailhead. Exposed cave features and stone picnic tables near the Hunter Line Shack make for a fabulous lunch destination.
So if you plan on making the hike to the Grotto- I recommend waiting to eat until you get to the picnic area instead of the one at Pratt Cabin. It’s not as busy and the tables are beautifully made out of stone and other materials found in the area. The round-trip distance from the visitor center to the Grotto is 7.0 miles.
Weekend Itinerary
Day1
9 am: Pine Springs Visitor Center
9:30 am: Guadalupe Peak or Devil’s Hall hike (bring lunch and eat on trail)
3:30 pm: Walk the Pinery Springs Trail
5:30 pm: Walk to Smith Spring
6 pm: Watch the sunset
Day 2
9 am: Pratt Cabin Trail (bring lunch and eat at The Grotto)
12 pm: The Grotto Trail
3 pm: Return to El Paso or Drive to Carlsbad Caverns
I hope you and yours have an amazing weekend in Guadalupe Mountains National Park too!
Frequently asked questions
How is the weather in winter at Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
The weather can be unpredictable the higher you go in elevation. Snow and freezing fog are common at the peaks. When we visited in February we had beautiful sunny 75-degree weather but we also stayed at the lower elevations.
Is Guadalupe Mountains National Park good for hiking?
The park is good for hiking. With over 80 miles of trails, you can experience mountains, deserts, forests, and rocky terrains. There are variations in difficulty levels so you can choose accordingly.
Is there cell service?
Cell service is unreliable and can be spotty with dead zones in the canyons and deeper into the park. The Pine Springs Visitor Center has limited but available services.
Are there places to eat?
No, there are no places to eat. The Visitor Center offers snacks and beverages but for meals, you’ll need to travel north to Whites City or Carlsbad.
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