Photo By: Jacob Lips
Four of the highest peaks in Texas are situated in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which traverses Culberson and Hudspeth Counties. The park is an 83,367-acre protected land with mountains and forests that are home to numerous birds.
Some 170,000 people visited the park in 2018.
History
The Guadalupe Mountains got its name from its age, as it was estimated to have existed since at least 260 million years ago. Guadalupian is the second epoch of the Permian period. Human settlement, though, didn’t start until around 10,000 years ago in caves and alcoves.
The arrival of European started in the 16th century, but they never homesteaded. The Mescalero Apache inhabited the mountains until the mid-1800s. In the 1870s, Felix McKittrick became the first European to live in the Guadalupe Mountains. It was believed that McKittrick Canyon was named after him.
In 1921, American geologist Wallace Pratt built summer houses in the area in McKittrick Canyon. Eventually, he donated some 6,000 acres of the canyon to become part of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which was established on Sept. 30, 1972.
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Things to do
Hiking
When in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visitors better scale the state’s highest peak. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet. There is a marker at the top for photo opportunities proving that one conquered the mountain peak. The climb is not that bad considering that hikers will have the opportunity to pass through a conifer forest. Also, hikers who reach the top get a clear bird’s eye view of the park.
There are over 80 miles of trails in the park with different views of the Guadalupe Mountains and other sites. The Devil’s Hall Trail traverses through a natural staircase, while the Smith Spring Loop leads to the cool Smith Spring.
McKittrick Canyon Trail provides a colorful vista of the park characterized by riparian vegetation. Of course, McKittrick Canyon is also rich in history, as it was here that the first European homesteader was recorded. The trail will also lead to the historic Wallace Pratt Lodge, which has since been entered into the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Birding
There are at least 250 species of birds spotted at the park, which makes it a perfect place for birders. At Frijole Ranch, commonly spotted birds are canyon towhees, chipping sparrows, lark sparrows, northern mockingbirds, phoebes, western scrub jays and white-winged doves. A little farther from the ranch is Manzanita Spring, which is popular among violet-green swallows and white-throated swifts. Smith Spring’s residents include Lewis’ woodpeckers, northern flickers, Red-naped sapsuckers, and Williamson’s sapsuckers.
The McKittrick Canyon has more unique birds like bushtits, greater roadrunners and rock wrens. There are also black-headed grosbeaks, Grace’s warblers, plumbeous vireos, among others. For serious birders, they might want to hike the 8.5-mile trail to the Bowl, which is home to hairy woodpeckers, mountain chickadees, pygmies and Townsend warblers.
Other places perfect for bird watching are Dog Canyon, William’s Ranch and Guadalupe Canyon, and Pine Springs. For those who can’t identify bird species, birding is still a wonderful experience because birds are diverse—they have different colors and sizes and even have different sounds.
Camping & backcountry adventure
There are two campgrounds in the park: Pine Springs Campground and Dog Canyon Campground. The former is located in the base of the mountains, while the latter provides a higher elevation. As for backpacking adventures, there are 10 designated campsites in the park’s backcountry. Visitors might want to check the National Park Service website for organized backcountry wilderness adventure. The activity is guided by a park ranger, who will not only camp with the backpackers but will also explain a lot of the scenic views during the trek.
Artist-in-residence program
The park is inspirational for artists—whether they are painters, photographers, and others. Park management recognizes the importance of art, and the significance of encapsulating the beauty of the park through art. This is why the artist-in-residence program is in place. The program offers visual artists, writers, composers, and performers to create their art while temporarily living in the park.
Flora and fauna
The park has different natural levels, which means different types of vegetation thrive in different areas. The lower level of the park is blanketed with grassland and has some pinyon pines. The Chihuahuan Desert part of the park has creosote bushes, honey mesquites, and salt flats. Other plants common in the park are bigtooth maples, chinkapin oaks, velvet ashes, and other spring-fed trees.
Aside from the birds, other animal residents of the park include badgers, black bears, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, elk, gray foxes, javelinas,
mule deer and striped and hog-nosed skunks.
Photo By: Jacob Lips