Traveler's Checklist

To help you get the most out of this national park that’s close to a busy highway but still feels like it’s out in the middle of nowhere, here is the Traveler’s Checklist for touring Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

1. Pine Springs Visitor Center: Before you head out on your explorations of this national park, it's a good idea to check out the park's main visitor center first. You'll be able to tour a room with exhibits of the park's geology, wildlife, and history, talk to the rangers for the latest conditions and weather, check in to your camping site, and wander the small gift shop to pick up snacks and souvenirs.

2. The Pinery Trail: If you don't have much time but want to explore some of the Chihuahuan Desert and learn a bit of history about the area, take the accessible 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) round-trip, out-and-back Pinery Trail that starts behind the Pine Springs Visitor Center. This trail takes you to the ruins of the Pinery Station built in 1858 and located on the Old Butterfield Stagecoach Route.

3. Dog Canyon: A secluded forested canyon that sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet (1,920 m). This area offers quiet camping, birding, and hiking. Nearby trails include the Indian Meadow Nature Trail, Marcus Overlook, and Lost Peak. Check in at the ranger station for information and permits for backpacking and horseback riding.

4. McKittrick Canyon: This area offers beautiful fall foliage combined with the characteristics of the Chihuahuan Desert. With unique historic and environmental elements, nearby trails include: McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail, Pratt Cabin, The Grotto, McKittrick Ridge, and Permian Reef Trail. Backpacking is also available with a permit from the headquarters Visitor Center.

5. Williams Ranch: Check out a gate key at the Pine Springs Visitor Center, explore the dirt roads on your 4X4 high-ground clearance vehicle, and see the historic ranch.

6. Frijole Ranch: Visit the Frijole Ranch Museum and enjoy a relaxing day walking the Smith Spring and Manzanita Spring trails as you explore “desert paradise.”

7. Salt Basin Dunes: These desert lowlands showcase the variety of environments offered at the Guadalupe Mountains; from forested areas to this stark landscape, safely explore two different worlds.

8. Stargaze: Take your camera out to photograph a silhouetted El Capitan beneath an inky night sky glittering with bright stars and the Milky Way, visible every clear night horizon-to-horizon.

9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park: The Guadalupe Mountains’ sister park is in Carlsbad, New Mexico, a 30-minute drive away, where visitors can explore one of the world’s most unique cave system.