National Park · Texas

Trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

43 named trails · 83 miles · 7 trailheads · 19 with the Park Service's own write-up. Each trail's page has its profile, trailhead and the Service's write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks map Find a trail Park on nps.gov

43 trails, A to Z.

Amphitheatre Trail

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Bear Canyon Trail

1.8 mi · Hunter Peak: 8.7 mi round trip · about 1,800 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Blue Ridge

2.0 mi · about 750 ft of climbing

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Blue Ridge Campground Access

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Bowl Trail

3.1 mi · Hunter Peak: 8.7 mi round trip · about 700 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Bush Mountain Campground Access

0.1 mi

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Bush Mountain Trail

12 mi · Marcus Overlook: 5.2 mi round trip · about 2,300 ft of climbing

PeaksCampgroundsthe Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Butterfield Stage Ruins Trail

0.2 mi

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Devil's Hall Trail

1.0 mi · Devil's Hall: 4.2 mi round trip · about 300 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Dunes Trail

1.4 mi · Salt Basin Dunes Trail: 3–4 mi round trip · about 20 ft of climbing

Picnic areasthe Service's write-upGypsum Dunes Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

El Capitan Trail

9.3 mi · about 2,300 ft of climbing

Williams Ranch Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Foothills Trail

2.3 mi · Foothills Loop: 4.5 mi round trip · about 350 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Frijole Ranch Trail

0.1 mi · Manzanita Spring: 0.5 mi out and back

Picnic areasthe Service's write-upFrijole Ranch Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Frijole Trail

2.1 mi · Foothills Loop: 4.5 mi round trip · about 550 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Guadalupe Peak Campground Access

0.1 mi · about 40 ft of climbing

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Guadalupe Peak Horse Trail

1.6 mi · about 700 ft of climbing

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Guadalupe Peak Trail

4.1 mi · Guadalupe Peak: 8.4 mi round trip · about 2,900 ft of climbing

PeaksPicnic areasthe Service's write-upPine Springs Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Hunter Peak Trail

0.1 mi · Hunter Peak: 8.7 mi round trip · about 100 ft of climbing

Peaksthe Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Indian Meadows Nature Loop

0.7 mi · Indian Meadow Nature Trail: 0.6 mi loop · about 80 ft of climbing

CampgroundsPicnic areasthe Service's write-upIndian Meadow Nature Trail Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Juniper Trail

1.9 mi · about 200 ft of climbing

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Marcus Campground Access

about 20 ft of climbing

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Marcus Trail

3.8 mi · Marcus Overlook: 5.2 mi round trip · about 1,500 ft of climbing

the Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

McKittrick Canyon Nature Loop

0.9 mi loop · about 250 ft of climbing

Visitor centersMcKittrick Canyon Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

McKittrick Canyon Trail

3.6 mi · McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail: 0.9 mi round trip · about 400 ft of climbing

Picnic areasVisitor centersthe Service's write-upMcKittrick Canyon Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

McKittrick Ridge Campground Access

0.1 mi

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

McKittrick Ridge Trail

7.4 mi · McKittrick Ridge: 15.2 mi round trip · about 3,000 ft of climbing

ViewsPicnic areasthe Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Mescalero Campground Access

0.1 mi · about 20 ft of climbing

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Old McKittrick Canyon Road

0.4 mi · about 40 ft of climbing

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Permian Reef Geology Loop Trail

0.4 mi · about 100 ft of climbing

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Permian Reef Trail

3.1 mi · about 2,000 ft of climbing

Visitor centersthe Service's write-upMcKittrick Canyon Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Pine Springs Campground Trail

0.1 mi

Picnic areasVisitor centers

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Pine Top Campground Access

about 10 ft of climbing

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Pinery Trail

0.4 mi · Pinery Trail: 0.75 mi round trip

Visitor centersthe Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Pratt Cabin Access Trail

about 20 ft of climbing

Picnic areas

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Salt Basin Overlook

2.3 mi · about 700 ft of climbing

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Salt Basin Overlook Loop

1.3 mi · about 250 ft of climbing

Views

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Shumard Campground Access

0.1 mi

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Smith Spring Trail

2.3 mi loop · Smith Spring Trail Loop: 2.3 mi round trip · about 400 ft of climbing

Springsthe Service's write-upFrijole Ranch Trailhead Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Tejas Campground Access

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Tejas Trail

12 mi · Hunter Peak: 8.7 mi round trip · about 2,800 ft of climbing

CampgroundsPicnic areasthe Service's write-upDog Canyon Trailhead and 1 more Drive there

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Visitor Horse Corrals Access

0.1 mi

Backcountry camps

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Wilderness Ridge Campground Trail

Campgrounds

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

Wilderness Ridge Trail

1.5 mi · about 150 ft of climbing

Campgroundsthe Service's write-up

Length, climbing, trailhead and the write-up · · Hike this trail

More hikes the Park Service describes

Write-ups that name no single mapped trail, in the Service's words.

Day Hike Preparation · no dogs
As with most activities, hikers face potential risks. Knowledge and preparation can increase your comfort level and reduce your chances of injury. Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety.
Dealing with Human Waste · 5-15 Minutes · no dogs
Nothing can spoil a trip in the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness as quickly as the discovery of human waste or toilet paper at a prime camping spot or along the trail. Always use the restroom before hiking. If you are on the trail for the day or an extended trip, be prepared to pack out human waste, toilet paper, diapers, and hygiene products. Human waste disposal bags are highly recommended to transport solid waste.
Hike to Fall Colors · 2-6 Hours · no dogs · Fall
Bright fall colors of deciduous trees are not common in the southwest, but elevation and environment combine in the Guadalupe Mountains for a seasonally striking display usually from mid-October to Mid-November. A series of short and long hikes of varying degrees of difficulty will bring you to glimpse of this annual splendor.
Hiking off-trail · 1-8 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Fall
A new kind of experience in the Guadalupe Mountains starts where the maintained trail ends. However, off-trail hiking requires planning and preparation and carries a great deal of risk. Any person or persons planning to hike off trail in the park must stop by the Pine Springs Visitor Center and be issued an off-trail hiking permit.
Hiking with a Group · 1-10 Hours · no dogs
In order to protect sensitive ecosystems and limit the impacts on the natural landscape, day-use hiking groups may not be larger than twenty persons on any trails in the park. This page provides suggestions on how to split your group up in order to preserve Wilderness character, and limit adverse impacts on park resources.
Leave No Trace · no dogs
Each of us plays a vital role in protecting our national parks. As we spend time outdoors, in the natural world and in wilderness, it’s important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems. Following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, summarized below, can help us minimize those impacts.
Search and Rescue Policy · no dogs
Search and rescue actions are conducted on a discretionary basis. The level and necessity of the response is determined through evaluation of the situation by field personnel. Rescuer safety is always our first priority. This park expects visitors to exhibit a high degree of self-reliance and responsibility for their own safety in line with the difficulty of their chosen activities. There is little to no cell reception in most areas of the park.
Virtual Summit Log · no dogs
When you reach a summit or other destination in the park, take a group photo or selfie in areas of the park and post to social media and include the hashtag #GuadalupeMountains #guadalupepeak #hunterpeak #lostpeak or others hashtags using your device and social media service.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.