Hikers can head to Texas’s highest peak at Guadalupe National Park.
The Guadalupe Peak Trail climbs 3,000 feet to the 8,749-foot summit in an 8.5-mile round trip. It’s a strenuous hike across rocky ground, but the views of neighboring El Capitan and the Chihuahuan Desert below are worth the workout. Because of the altitude, plan 6-8 hours for the hike.
To reach the trailhead, from the El Paso metro area, take U.S. Hwy. 180 east. Upon reaching the park, turn left/northwest onto Pine Canyon Road. Check in at the Pine Springs Visitor Center then follow Pine Canyon Road to its end, where there’s a parking lot. The trail leaves from the lot’s northwest corner.
Ancient reefs
At 0.7 miles, the trail junctions a horse path that also goes to the peak. You’ll want to take the hiker trail. You can take the horse trail, of course – it’s not as steep, but the tradeoff is it’s a mile longer.
Switchbacks head up the hiker trail’s first 1.5 miles as ascending a steep slope. Increasingly great views of the desert below appear the higher you go.
Guadalupe Peak and the rest of this mountain range began to form some 261 million to 299 million years ago. At that time, this part of the world was under a shallow sea. Conditions were right for coral reefs to grow in an arc some 600 miles long. Called the Capitan Reef, it is one of the world’s best preserved ancient reefs.
Around 260 million years ago, the sea where the reefs grew began to evaporate. Minerals settled to the sea floor and mixed with new sediment flowing into the basin eventually covered the reefs. Over the eons, it hardened into rock.
Forests
After the switchbacks, the trail passes a cliff and reaches the mountains’ north-facing slope. A small forest of pinion pine, southwestern pine, and Douglas fir thrives here due to less sunlight from the north and hence a cooler environment than on the mountain’s other slopes.
The trail reaches a false summit about 3 miles in. A sparse ponderosa pine forest covers this flat spot. At 3.25 miles is the backcountry campsite.
Texas and New Mexico slowly began to rise in elevation about 80 million years ago. Faults formed along the range’s western margin, causing the Capitan Reef to rise several thousand feet. During the past 20 million years, erosion from wind and rain has carved the Guadalupe Mountains into their current shape.
The trail next descends a bit and crosses a wooden bridge. From there, the final ascent to the summit begins.
After going up a few switchbacks, the top of nearby El Capitan dominates the southern skyline. You’re almost there once the trail passes the horse hitching posts.
Summit
The trail reaches the summit at 4.25 miles. A triangle monument, erected in 1958, commemorates overland stage and air travel and marks the summit. You can sign a register there to become part of the elite club that has reached the top.
From the summit, several peaks in the Guadalupe Mountains are visible. To the northwest, Bartlett Peak rises to 8498 feet while Bush Mountain soars behind it to 8616 feet. Hunter Peak is to the northeast at 8258 feet. El Capitan is directly south at 8065 feet. Generally speaking, New Mexico is north of the mountain and Texas to the south.
Upon taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
Much of the trail’s base and certainly its peak are exposed to sun and wind, so be sure to don sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat. A good pair of hiking boots and a trekking pole are highly recommended. Carry at least 3-5 liters of water per person. If noticing signs of altitude sickness, turn back; there really is less oxygen on the peak.
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