| Guadalupe Mountains, Texas |
 Trail Name:McKittrick Canyon Summary: |
| Highly Recommended One Day Hike |
| Trail Description |
| From the highway, the Park appears to consist of desert interrupted by a towering wall of high limestone cliffs. But hike through the twists and turns of McKittrick Canyon, carved into the cliffs over millions of years, and you encounter a stunning, lush oasis. Spectacular leaf colors draw many people into the canyon in late October and early November, but it is quieter during the rest of the year. This tranquility, coupled with the freshness of new plant-life, makes spring a particularly attractive time to visit. Having hiked the canyon in May, we can certainly attest to its beauty at this time of year.
From the visitor center, keep straight ahead into canyon, ignoring the short nature trail on left and the Permian Reef Geology Trail on the right a little later. Desert scrub and cacti dominate initially as you follow clear McKittrick Creek, the only year-round stream in the Park. But, as the canyon narrows, the vegetation becomes ever more lush, enhancing the high cliffs surrounding you. Cross the shallow creek a number of times over stepping stones as you head through the canyon. 2.3 miles/3.7 km into the canyon, at the picnic area, a short fork on the right leads to the Pratt Cabin, built of stone by geologist William Pratt in 1930. The clear trail continues along the south fork of the canyon (the north fork branches off just beyond Pratt Cabin, but there is no trail). Head through beautiful woods of ponderosa pine, juniper, oak, Texas madrone and maple for 1.1 mile/1.8 km to a fork. Take the short trail on the left for around 0.3 mile/0.5 km to the Grotto, where the limestone formations resemble the stalagmites of a cave. Back at the fork, the level trail starts its steep climb out of the canyon to McKittrick Ridge. This is the turning round point for day-hikers, but you may want to climb up for about 0.5 mile to a rock with good views. Smith Spring |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, west Texas – 110 miles east of El Paso and 40 miles south-west of New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns. McKittrick Canyon is in the north-eastern corner of the Park.
Directions: Approach from the north-east or west on US 62/180. From the south, Hwy 54 from Van Horn joins the 62/180 just south of the Park. Continue north from this intersection for about 16 miles (passing Headquarters visitor center after 8.5 miles) to the paved McKittrick Canyon access road. This is a day-use area only, and the entrance gate is locked at dusk. Trailhead: Behind McKittrick Canyon visitor center, at the end of the 4-mile access road. Length: 7.5 miles / 12.0 km Trail Type: Out and back Elevation Change: 340 ft / 104 m Duration: 3.5 hours Trail Condition: Maintained and easy to follow. Features: Creek and canyon, high cliffs, rock formations. Climate: Best in spring and autumn. Hot in summer. Snowstorms may temporarily block access in winter. Accommodation: Inside the Park, Pine Springs Campground near the Headquarters visitor center has tent and RV sites on a first-come, first-served basis. Nearest motels at White’s City, New Mexico, 35 miles north-east on US 62/180. Trail Notes: Trail map and booklet available at both visitor centers, but McKittrick Canyon visitor center is only manned intermittently. Treated water is sometimes available at Pratt Cabin, but do not rely on it. |
Popularity: 12% [?]
