The extremes of the rugged Guadalupe Mountains National Park are apparent in the juxtaposition of the mountaintop forests and rocky canyons, as well as the woods and sprawling deserts. Also housing the highest peak in all of the state of Texas, the 8,749 foot Guadalupe Peak is visible from almost every vantage point within the park. In the 86,000 acres of this national park, visitors will enjoy spotting jackrabbits, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, fox, deer, and elk, as well as many species of reptile.
Our visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas was a treat, even amidst less-than-ideal conditions. After visiting the nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park (about thirty minutes away), we ventured into Guadalupe Mountains on a rainy morning eager to explore the park, even though the weather had changed our original plans.
We had originally planned to hike the 8.5 miles to the top of Guadalupe Peak, and had spent the prior few days getting the kids psyched up for that venture. However, upon seeing the rain and knowing that conditions would be difficult and visibility at a minimum, we knew that we had to pivot.
After hitting the Visitor Center first-thing that morning, we headed to our destination in the park, Devil’s Hall Trail, whose trailhead lay in the Pine Springs Campground of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
We hit the trail after finding some killer walking sticks for the venture. The kids, of course, used them as weapons.
We absolutely loved hiking Devil’s Hall Trail. This 4.2 mile roundtrip venture was the perfect journey through the park with kids! The first mile led us through many cacti, and over a lush, rocky ridge back into the canyon. After about a mile or so, we reached a large wash area, where we began bouldering our way up through the canyon. The kids loved climbing the rocks, and things were a bit touch-and-go at moments because of the rain and slippery conditions.
We eventually reached “Hiker’s Staircase,” from which we climbed up and into the most gorgeous slot canyon, “Devil’s Hall,” where we enjoyed a picnic together before the rain started up again.
The rain at our backs, it was amazing how quickly we made our way back on our return trip! We were all SOAKED by the time we returned to the RV!
Our family spent the afternoon relaxing at our campground, Whites City RV Park, where we also stayed while visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This lodging had some very entertaining decor!
What a great visit to Texas’ Guadalupe Mountains National Park!
