Guadalupe Peak

[Jordan Stealthey]

anybody ever hiked it? where's the best place to stay?

 

[TheFied]

I went about 5 years ago. Climbed Guadulupe Peak. Saw El Capitain. Hiked McKitrick (sp?) Canyon. It was fun but a long workout of hiking over 2-3 days. We stayed at the National Park and camped in tents.

 

[GakFoo]

i've hiked it. its a pretty easy trek. maybe 4-5 hours if i recall. make sure you take lots of water, there is no source along the way.

the best place to stay is on the mountain -- near the peak. there are 4 or 5 campsites up there (maybe more, its been a few years). you have to reserve them ahead of time.

 

[pantone159]

Highly recommended, that hike has some very nice views, both along the way and at the top. Last time I hiked it, it took us 3 hours from the trailhead to the top.

As far as where to spend the night: There is at least one campsite about 2/3 of the way up the trail, but I don't see the need to backpack it (and carry all that H2O), you can camp at the main campground at the base of the trail.
However: There aren't all that many campsites, and only a couple have any shade at all (and they'll be taken by the time you get there

). If this sounds unappetizing (it is indeed damn hot at the bottom in the summer), another option is to stay in a motel in Carlsbad NM or Van Horn TX (the first is about 45 min to the north, the second about 45 min to the south.) Both have a Motel 6, so that option is not even that much more expensive than paying the campsite fee. Last time I hiked the peak, we stayed in Carlsbad, woke up at 4 am, had a shower (no showers in the park), drove south, and hit the trail at 530 am just before sunrise, before it got hot.
Also note: The winds at Guadalupe NP can be VERY strong, I have experienced 70 mph gusts. The campsites don't have any more windbreak than they do shade, either.

Also recommended: Hunter Peak, also a day hike from the base, probably a little easier hike than Guadalupe. Some very nice views from the top, and it won't be as crowded either. The hike up, however, is not as nice as Guadalupe, instead the Tejas Trail is a steady grade up a gravel trail surface that is a bit tedious.

Some photos and stuff here:The Link

Watch for mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and swarms of bees!

 

[pmg]

Here's some of my info which I now realize needs to be updated. I've been up there several times.Guad MNP and a Guad Peak trip report.

Not sure by what you mean "place to stay." If you're not camping the only motels are a bit aways.

The nicest thing about camping in the backcountry site not far from the summit is that you'll get good light early morning and late afternoon for photography. The problem with day hiking in the most popular time is that you get there in mid day.

I doubt you'll see a snake on the trail in August, unless you're really early.

 

[Woland]

I've done it six times. Never saw a snake or had problems with bees, but once we were attacked by millions of lady bugs at the summit...no joke.

We were hailed on at the summit once as well.

I'll throw another option out. From central Texas, you can make it to Ft. Stockton easily even if you leave after work or class. Rise early and drive to the park (you'll gain and hour along the way). Hike up to the campsite below the summit, then tackle the peak the next morning.

There is a campground at Sonora Caverns. It's another nice place to camp and you can eat at the Sutton County Steakhouse in Sonora.

Staying in New Mexico is more expensive because of the proximity of the caverns, but you do have the caverns and a nice desert zoo.

Papa Chuy's in Van Horn is a good place to fill up on carbs.

The wind can be brutal. We survived one night in the main campground to find a tractor trailor blown over on the pass.

Take the recommendations for water amounts very seriously.

Trivia note: There used to be cafe in the park where you could get a beer and sit around and listen to old cowboys tell gold stories. Unfortunately, the park service shut it down. Too bad...it was a great place.

 

[pmg]

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[Jordan Stealthey]

Thanks guys. By 'where to stay' i mean hotel-wise. Looks like Carlsbad will be the most accomodating. The little lady requires a hotel.

 

[pantone159]

I did see this rattlesnake on the trail, but it was in April. (I see that pmg has a rattler photo from the park as well

)

I've heard about the ladybugs, but I don't ever seem to have run into the hordes of them that supposedly are pretty common.

One thing I want to do some day, btw, is climb up the 8000 ft peaks in that park that don't have trails to them (Shumard, El Capitan, some others whose names I have forgot.) I have all the Texas 8000-ers with trails, but none of those without.