Guadalupe Mountains National Park (El Paso, Spring: camping, pine, place)

[Jaybee]

My wife and I are planning on traveling thru El Paso on our way to Carlsbad Caverns NP. I noticed that there is another National Park near Carlsbad at the Guadalupe Mountains on the TX side of the border. Aside from having the highest peak in TX, is this park worth a visit? Thanks in advance for the input.

[musicman107]

I love camping in Texas, and Guadalupe Park is high on my list because of the good things I've heard about...haven't been there, but go to the below webiste and I tihink you'll find some helpful info, including photos of area, etc.
Hooe this helps!!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat.../irgn_hc.phtml


]My wife and I are planning on traveling thru El Paso on our way to Carlsbad Caverns NP. I noticed that there is another National Park near Carlsbad at the Guadalupe Mountains on the TX side of the border. Aside from having the highest peak in TX, is this park worth a visit? Thanks in advance for the input.[/quote]

[musicman107]

I love camping in Texas, and Guadalupe Park is high on my list because of the good things I've heard about...haven't been there, but go to the below webiste and I tihink you'll find some helpful info, including photos of area, etc.
Hooe this helps!!

[url]http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/irgn_hc.phtml

[musicman107]

My bad!
Didn't read carefully enough.
I have been to Big Bend proper, and it is a miraculously beautiful oasis of a lush mountainous forest in the midst of a desert...about 270 mi. from Guad. NATIONAL Park, though....I have not been to this Nat'l Park.
Sorry bout that.

My wife and I are planning on traveling thru El Paso on our way to Carlsbad Caverns NP. I noticed that there is another National Park near Carlsbad at the Guadalupe Mountains on the TX side of the border. Aside from having the highest peak in TX, is this park worth a visit? Thanks in advance for the input.

[lifertexan]

If you like hiking it is definitely worth the visit.The climb up Guadelupe Peak is fairly tough,but is on a well maintained trail so there is not any scrambling across rocks.You look down onto El Capitan Peak from the top.There is a book at the top to sign when you make it.McKittrick Ridge is also a beautiful hike.Jut be prepared and bring everything you need in yourself,especially PLENTY of water.It is a primitive style park with few amenities.I've been up it twice with my kids,but have never bothered to go to the caverns myself,even though they are right there where we stay at,in Whites City,NM,which is a cool little village in it's own right.

[stargazer]

Yes in my younger years I have camped on both sides of the park. Pine Springs is hotter and more desert but the camp sites are more private and I loved that. Dog Canyon is north and has a elevation of over 6000 feet and it feels fabulous and in the spring time, it is so lovely, very lush. The drawback to Dog Canyon is that the camp sites aren't as secluded, there all in a row. You will get to know your neighbor if you have any.

If you go and decide to camp, bring a camp shower, they don't have any showers there, just bathrooms and running cold water. We were there for 4 days and after hiking all day, a shower is something you need to do.

[moonlitemom63]

This is a beautiful park if you like to hike. The difference between the lower and higher elevations is tremendous. The hike is strenuous and requires about 3-4 miles of steep hiking to get into the beautiful forested "bowl." The higher elevations are blessed w/a herd of elk, mountain lions, black bear, etc. If you are not up to a hike into the mountains, McKittrick Canyon is the place you should visit.
Otherwise, it's a long drive to see a high desert-type campground. The beauty is really in the backcountry.