A Hidden Gem In The Heart Of Texas - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a one-of-a-kind activity.

However, there were less than 220,000 visitors in 2022, making it one of the least popular national parks in the United States.

The crown jewel of West Texas is home to Guadalupe Peak, the state's highest point, and a variety of breathtaking landscapes over its expansive 86,000 acres. Theresa Moore, the park's interim superintendent and manager of Visitor Services, explained that over 260 million years have passed since this sponge reef became petrified. That's a very one-of-a-kind situation.

At the same time, fourteen distinct Indigenous peoples call this place home. The Chihuahuan Desert is also a feature of this area. At three thousand feet, you'll find yourself in the midst of a forest of ponderosa pine trees. The park's incredible variety of plant and animal life is really magnificent.

Moore recommends spending at least two nights in the park, and a day if you want to trek up Guadalupe Peak and back. If you want to see more of Texas than simply the top, the park is the state's biggest and oldest designated wilderness area. Visitors have the option of exploring the cultural sites in the park for two or three days of their trip.

At Pine Springs and Pinery, they can find the abandoned remains of the Butterfield stagecoach route. The Frijole History Ranch Museum is also here, just around seven miles round way to climb up McKittrick Canyon to the Pratt Cabin and onto the Hunter Line Shack.

Moore also suggests taking a hike to Manzanita Spring while in the Frijole Ranch region. Furthermore, the Smith Spring Trail may be accessed from Frijole, behind the ranch house, and it leads directly into the wild area. The park's 2.3-mile circular route allows visitors to see the natural environment and a running spring, in addition to learning about the park's cultural history. It's described like a tiny paradise, as well as one of the park's more easily accessible locations, making it perfect for birding. Not to mention that a trip to Dog Canyon and the Salt Basin Dunes to your itinerary would make it even more appealing.

Can the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns be visited in a same day?

The answer is yes, travellers may theoretically see both parks in a single day. Just 30 minutes away in a vehicle, over the border in New Mexico lies the famous Carlsbad Caverns. However, additional time is needed to really enjoy both places. And the best part is that the park can be visited any time of the year.

“In the spring, it's beautiful. The desert is in bloom. In the summer, it's hot, but it's still amazing and stunning. If you want to be amazed, come to the park in the fall. We have fall foliage. If you hike McKittrick Canyon, there are maple trees and oak trees, and you get the reds and the yellows and the oranges.

“Then in the winter, if you're a weather geek our weather is a lot of fun. We have some pretty strong winds that come through the pass there”, Moore explained.

She recommends that visitors always check the forecast, but winter visitors in particular pay close attention.

El Paso, Texas, is the nearest large city and can be reached in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes by driving. The closest major airport is El Paso International Airport. Moore urged park-goers to bring lots of supplies, including petrol for their vehicles and food and drink.

She also stated that Wi-Fi is available at the tourist centre and that phone coverage might be spotty. Mobile phones might be perplexing since they occasionally get coverage from towers in Central Time even though the park is on Mountain Time.

Tourists who want to spend the night in the wild are required to get a permit, which they may do in one of two ways: either reserve one in advance via Recreation.gov or try their luck with a walk-up application. Park passes may be purchased for $10 for a period of seven days.

 

source: eu.usatoday.com