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190379 Hits
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99.49% Score
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114 Votes
Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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31.89140°N / 104.86°W |
Activities:
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Hiking, Scrambling |
Season:
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Spring, Fall, Winter |
Elevation:
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8749 ft / 2667 m |
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Overview
Signature photo by Brian Jenkins.
Texas is a large state, covering an area of more than 268,000 square miles (694117 square kilometers). Little of this area is covered in mountains. However, in the far western part of Texas the land begins to crumple into scattered collections of peaks. The highest of these is an ancient reef rising abruptly from the Chihuahuan Desert floor. These mountains are the Guadalupe Mountains, and at their apex stands the high point of Texas - Guadalupe Peak.
This popular peak, accessible via a well-graded hiking trail, is capped by an odd stainless steel monument placed by American Airlines in the 1950s. Per the inscription on the plaque at its base, the monument was placed to remember both the Butterfield Overland Mail stage line as well as the latter-day stage drivers, the pilots who shuttle airmail about in aircraft.
Standing on top of Guadalupe Peak means the high point of many things: The high point of Texas, of course, as well as the highpoint of the Guadalupe Mountains, as already stated. One also stands on the highpoint of Guadalupe Mountains National Park as well as the highpoint of Culberson County.
Texas Rank: Highest peak in Texas
Prominence: 3,039 feet
USGS Quad: Guadalupe Peak
Recreation/Planning Map: Trails Illustrated #203 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Rank & Prominence Source: Lists of John
Getting There
The vast majority of visitors to Guadalupe Mountains National Park will arrive by vehicle. El Capitan is accessible via the primary park entrance. The park is located in far west Texas, about 110 miles east of El Paso, Texas. To reach the main entrance, put of El Paso, follow U.S. Highway 62/180 to the park entrance.
El Paso has the nearest major commercial airport, though Albuquerque, New Mexico, would be an option for air travelers, as well. Per SP Member MarkDask Midland-Odessa Airport (Texas) is about 200 miles away, and should be considered if you're also heading to Big Bend on the same trip, as it is 90 miles closer to Big Bend than El Paso. Carefully compare the airfares and cost of car rental at location / airport.
Red Tape
Welcome to Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The entrance fee to this national park is $5.00 per person for adults 16 years of age and older, and is good for 7 days.
Many use restrictions apply in national parks, most notably that dogs are not allowed on most trails and are restricted only to parking lots, campgrounds and interpretive trails or other trails designated as dog-friendly.
Camping & Lodging
Front Country Camping
Per the National Park Website:
Pine Springs* (Elevation 5,822')
Located just off U.S. Highway 62/180 near the Headquarters Visitor Center, Pine Springs Campground is a simple, desert camping area situated at the base of the mountain.
•Campground conveniences include: potable water, accessible flush-toilet restrooms , utility sink, pay telephones, and a drink machine. There are no showers available in the campground.
•Tent campers have a choice of 20 leveled, gravel sites. Small junipers and oaks partially shade most of the sites and each site has a picnic table. Numbers are limited to 6 people or 2 tents per site.
•The RV camping area is a paved parking lot with 19 sites to choose from. RV sites are defined by painted lines and numbers on the pavement. There are no hook-ups and there is no dump station. RV water tanks can be filled from an outside water faucet near the registration board. RV campsite #21 is wheelchair accessible.
When you arrive, select a campsite, then pay at the self-registration board near the restrooms, or fees may be paid by credit card at the Headquarters Visitor Center. All sites are on a first come, first served basis. The fee is $8.00 per night per site, $4.00 for Golden Age (Senior) and Golden Access Passport holders.
*Per SP Member Bark Eater: The Pine Springs tent camping area is small and can typically fill by Thursday evening for popular weekends. The good news is that the NPS folks are pretty cool and will let "tenters" sleep in their cars or pickups in the RV area if spaces are available and the tent area is full. This was the case for my group. Still nice picnic tables available around the RV space. You just cannot pitch a tent there. The park enforces quiet time after 8 PM so you don't have to worry about generators going all night long. The flexibility to stay in the RV lot is good because other drive-up camping options are a LONG drive away.
Weather & Seasons
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•Summers are hot, though the desert nights cool down nicely at this elevation. Keep an eye out for afternoon monsoon storms in late summer. •Autumn is generally cool and calm with pleasant fall colors. •Winter can bring warm sunny days but bitter cold nights and even fog, snow and freezing rain. •In a park notorious for high winds, spring brings some of the gustiest conditions. The park frequently posts high winds warnings in springtime. |
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External Links and Additional Information
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park Official Website
• Park Map (PDF)
3 Routes
slowbutsteady - Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm - Voted 10/10
firearmsI believe firearms may now be carried in National Parks
vanman798 - Jun 7, 2013 11:15 am - Hasn't voted
Re: firearmswhat for?
Sarah Simon - Jun 7, 2013 12:13 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: firearmsConfirmed: http://www.nps.gov/gumo/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm No need to infringe on the Constitutional rights of law abiding citizens visiting the park. Cheers, Sarah
Bark Eater - Nov 14, 2013 10:36 am - Voted 10/10
Camping optionsThe Pine Springs tent camping area is small and can typically fill by Thursday evening for popular weekends. The good news is that the NPS folks are pretty cool and will let "tenters" sleep in their cars or pickups in the RV area if spaces are available and the tent area is full. This was the case for my group. Still nice picnic tables available around the RV space. You just cannot pitch a tent there. The park enforces quiet time after 8 PM so you don't have to worry about generators going all night long. The flexibility to stay in the RV lot is good because other drive-up camping options are a LONG drive away.
Sarah Simon - Nov 15, 2013 4:05 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Camping optionsThanks for the updated notes - I will incorporate these into the page! -Sarah
Bark Eater - Nov 16, 2013 7:19 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Camping optionsYou bet! Amazing place. I greatly enjoyed our visit. Wish we could have stayed longer!
MarkDask - Jan 20, 2014 1:28 pm - Hasn't voted
Nearby airportsMidland-Odessa Airport (Texas)is about 200 miles away, but may be a better bet if you're also heading to Big Bend on the same trip, as it is 90 miles closer to BB than El Paso is. You have to compare the airfares and cost of car rental at each place.
Sarah Simon - Jan 20, 2014 9:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Nearby airportsThanks, Mark, I'll add this to the page / getting there. - Sarah
6sniders - Jan 23, 2017 11:40 pm - Voted 6/10
Trail Info missing?Please add the info about the trail length etc...I found this on Texas hiking trails site. Guadalupe Peak Trail. Length: 4.20 Miles Elevation Gain from trail head: 3000. thank you
Sarah Simon - Feb 1, 2017 8:43 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Trail Info missing?Hi, Alan's route description, attached to this peak, is right where it's been since 2002: http://www.summitpost.org/guadalupe-peak-trail/157442 Cheers, Sarah
sam807 - Sep 19, 2017 1:26 pm - Hasn't voted
AmazingAbsolutely amazing peak. It is, by far, my favorite mountain I've climbed out. I started hiking a few hours before sunset. The first mile or is probably the steepest part of the hike. The trail is well defined and will lead you up the face of the mountain immediately adjacent to the parking lot. The first part of the trail has some steps constructed out of rock and wood. One part of the trail is carved out of solid rock. Watch out for mountain goats. I turned a corner of the trail and came face-to-face with one. He jumped over the edge and joined a few other goats running down the mountain. I reached the summit at sunset. The view was outstanding. You can see vast distances in every direction. The light was bouncing off the back of El Capitan and provided excellent photos. I hiked back in the dark, but the trail is well marked and it was no issue. The hike is about 8-9 miles round trip and isn't particularly strenuous. Round trip for me was about five hours, including the time I spent on the summit.
skinnywhitecomic - Oct 26, 2020 1:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Park FeesAs of 10/24/2020, the entrance to the trail was $10 a person.