23 Best Sights in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Wind through a Chihuahuan Desert habitat thick with spiked agave plants, prickly pear cacti, ponderosa pines, and a dry riverbed strewn with giant boulders to Devil's Hall, a narrow 10-foot-wide canyon with walls that soar to more than 100 feet. At a leisurely pace, this 4.2-mile round-trip jaunt will take three or four hours. Moderate.

Thirteen campsites have picnic tables, which you can use during the day for free. This is a lovely shaded area at 6,300 elevation where you're likely to see mule deer. Drinking water and restrooms are available on the grounds, about a two-hour drive from the Headquarters Visitor Center.

With its grassy, tree-shaded grounds, you could almost imagine this handsome and peaceful little 1876 ranch house somewhere other than the harsh Chihuahuan Desert. Inside what's believed to be the region's oldest intact structure, displays and photographs depict ranch life and early park history. Easy, family-friendly hiking trails lead to wildlife oases at Manzanita Spring and Smith Spring. Hours are sporadic, so check with the visitor center if you wish to go inside. Still, it's good fun just to explore the ranch grounds and outbuildings, orchard, and still-functioning irrigation system.

An 8.4-mile workout over a steep grade to the top of Texas pays off with a passage through several ecosystems and some great views. The round-trip hike takes six to eight hours, but the trail is clearly defined and doesn't require undue athleticism. The steepest climbs are in the beginning. In summer, start this hike in early morning to allow a descent before afternoon thunderstorms flare up. Lightning targets high peaks. Be alert to changing weather and head for lower ground if conditions worsen. Also, Guadalupe Peak is considered one of the windiest points in the U.S. Difficult, elevation gain 3,000 feet.

A desert creek flows through this canyon, considered one of the wondrous sights in Texas, lined with walnut, maple, and other trees that explode into brilliant hues each autumn. Call the visitor center to chart the progress of the colorful fall foliage; the spectacular changing of the leaves often extends into November, depending on the weather. You're likely to spot mule deer heading for the water here. The canyon is ground zero for several hiking trails, including Pratt Cabin (two to three hours) and the Grotto (four hours).

Poster-size illustrations on a shaded, outdoor patio of this intermittently staffed ranger station tell the geological story of the Guadalupe Mountains, believed to have been carved from an ancient sea. You can also hear the recorded memoirs of oilman Wallace Pratt, who donated his ranch and surrounding area to the federal government for preservation. Nearby trailheads access a 1-mile nature loop and lengthier hikes.

View stream and canyon woodlands along a 4.8-mile round-trip excursion that leads to the vacant Pratt Cabin (sometimes called Pratt Lodge), which was built of stone during the Great Depression in the "most beautiful spot in Texas," according to its original owner, Wallace Pratt. Perhaps he was enthralled by an oasis of running water carving through the canyon floor or a colorful riot of autumn foliage. Continue another mile each way to reach the Grotto, where you'll discover a picnic area overlooking a flowing stream and surface rock that resembles formations in an underground cave with jagged overhangs. Just beyond the Grotto is the historic Hunter Line Cabin. Allow two to three hours to visit Pratt Cabin and another hour or two if you go to the Grotto. Moderate.

Drinking water, restrooms, and a picnic area are available at this central campground with sweeping mountain views. Shade, however, can be sparse and summer heat intense. You can walk off that hearty lunch along one of the several nearby hiking trails.

You can pick up maps, brochures, and hiking permits here at the park's visitor center, just off U.S. 62/180. A slide show and a 12-minute movie provide a quick introduction to the park, half of which is protected as a designated wilderness area. Informative exhibits depict geological history, area wildlife, and flora ranging from lowland desert to forested mountaintop. You can access several trails and a lovely picnic area and campground a short ½-mile drive or stroll from the visitor center.

Departing from the Frijole Ranch, the trail heads for a shady oasis where you may spot mule deer and elk drawn to the miracle of water in the desert. As a bonus, the route passes Manzanita Spring, another wildlife refuge only 0.2 mile past Frijole Ranch. Allow 1½ hours to complete the 2.3-mile round-trip walk. This is a good hike for older kids whose legs won't tire as easily, but it's not wheelchair accessible past Manzanita Spring. Easy–Moderate.

Meandering through forests of pine and Douglas fir, this trail to an aptly named mountaintop valley is one of the most gorgeous in the park. The strenuous 9.1-mile round-trip has an elevation gain of 2,500 feet and can take up to 10 hours. It's where rangers go when they want to enjoy themselves. Bring lots of water. Difficult.

With a helpful staff who can advise you on making the most of your time in Dog Canyon, this small ranger station acts as a gateway to the vast, dramatic high country in the remote northern section of the park.

Several trails combine to form a popular loop through the low desert. El Capitan skirts the base of El Capitan peak for about 3.5 miles, leading to a junction with Salt Basin Overlook. The 4.7-mile Salt Basin Overlook trail begins at the Pine Springs Trailhead and has views of the stark white salt flat below and loops back onto the El Capitan Trail. The 11.3-mile round-trip is not recommended during the intense heat of summer, because there is absolutely no shade. Moderate–Difficult.

It's not very secluded, but Frijole sports attractive picnic shelters near the parking area, which also has restrooms. Two picnic tables are also set up under tall trees near Frijole Ranch History Museum.

Branching off the Frijole Ranch Trail, this relatively flat hike leads to Pine Springs Campground and Visitor Center. The 5½-mile round-trip through desert vistas takes about four hours. Moderate.

This mostly level 0.6-mile round-trip hike crosses an arroyo into meadowlands and offers a relaxing way to savor Dog Canyon's peaceful countryside in less than an hour. Easy.

The park offers a self-guided Junior Ranger Program: kids choose activities from a workbook—including nature hikes and answering questions based on park exhibits—and earn a badge once they've completed four. If they complete six, they earn an additional patch. Workbooks are available at the visitor center or at the park website.

The somewhat strenuous trek from Dog Canyon into a coniferous forest is 6.4 miles round-trip and takes about five to six hours. There is no defined trail the last ¼ mile to the peak, but adventurers are rewarded with terrific views. Moderate–Difficult, elevation gain 1,540 feet.

A 4½-mile round-trip with an 800-foot elevation gain rewards you with a panoramic view of West Dog Canyon. Set aside about half a day for it. Moderate.

Signs along this nearly 1-mile loop explain the geological and botanical history of the area, and the views, while not spectacular, are engaging enough to hold your interest. You can take the loop in either of two directions when you come to a fork in the trail. Easy–Moderate.

If you're in shape and have a serious geological bent, you may want to hike this approximately 8.5-mile round-trip climb. It heads through open, expansive desert country to a forested ridge with Douglas fir and ponderosa pines. Panoramic views of McKittrick Canyon and the surrounding mountain ranges allow you to observe many rock layers. A geology guidebook coordinated to trail makers is available at the Pine Springs Visitor Center. Set aside at least eight hours for this trek. Difficult, elevation gain 2,000 feet.

In the mid-1800s passengers en route from St. Louis to California on the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route stopped here for rest and refreshment. At more than a mile in elevation, the station was the highest on the journey, but it operated for only about a year. The ruins provide a peek into the past: the bare remains of a few buildings with rock walls (but no roofs) layered on the desert floor. Do not touch. You can drive here from U.S. 62/180, but it's more interesting to stroll over via the paved ¾-mile round-trip natural trail from the visitor center.

Although this adventure isn't for the faint of heart—a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is required—this rough but enjoyable 7¼-mile, one-way drive over what was once the Butterfield Overland Mail Stage Line passes by dramatic limestone cliffs and offers panoramic views. Access is from U.S. 62/180 at the park's southeast border, and you must get a key at the visitor center to unlock the gate. It takes about an hour to reach the old ranch house, at the base of a 3,000-foot cliff. This is a day-trip only; overnight parking is prohibited.