Mountains, fall colors, stargazing, and impressive caves await on this 3 day Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Park itinerary. Although Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in Texas and Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in New Mexico, the parks are only 45 minutes apart and offer a great opportunity to visit two National Parks in one trip. Follow our 3 day itinerary to experience the best that Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns have to offer.


3 Day Guadalupe Mountains & Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary


Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Days 1 & 2)

With its incredibly diverse natural features, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the top hiking destinations in Texas. Spend the first two days of your trip in the Guadalupe Mountains exploring beautiful McKittrick Canyon and hiking to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak.

Day 1: Explore McKittrick Canyon & Watch Sunset at El Capitan

Begin your first day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park with a hike through McKittrick Canyon, a lush oasis in the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert. While hiking in McKittrick Canyon is beautiful any time of year, it is an absolute must-do in the fall. In October and November, McKittrick Canyon becomes a kaleidoscope of spectacular fall colors.

McKittrick Canyon Fall Colors Guadalupe Mountains National Park

There are several trail options to choose from depending on the distance you would like to hike. The McKittrick Nature Trail is an easy 0.9 mile loop, but to get the full canyon experience, take the McKittrick Canyon Trail. Good turnaround points on this out-and-back trail are the Pratt Cabin (4.8 miles roundtrip), the Grotto (6.8 miles roundtrip), or to “The Notch” scenic overlook (9.6 miles roundtrip).

View from Pratt Cabin on McKittrick Canyon Trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas

While hiking along McKittrick Canyon Trail, be sure to take the short trail spur to Pratt Cabin. Geologist Wallace Pratt had the stone cabin built in the 1930’s and lived there in the summers with his family. About 30 years later, Pratt donated the land and the cabin to the National Park Service for the creation of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pratt had quite an eye for location – the view from the rocking chairs on the cabin’s front porch is heavenly.

El Capitan Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas

After hiking through the scenic McKittrick Canyon, end your day with a sunset overlooking El Capitan. To get to the overlook, drive to the El Capitan Lookout along Highway 62 just south of the park entrance. There are picnic tables at El Capitan Lookout so bring along a meal to enjoy dinner with a view!

Day 2: Hike Guadalupe Peak

Spend your second day in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park by hiking to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. This 8.4 mile round trip hike with 3,000 feet in elevation gain hike is a workout, but the views at the peak make it one of the best hikes in Texas.

Guadalupe Peak sunset in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas
Guadalupe Peak sunset in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas

Guadalupe Peak can be done as a day hike or an overnight backpacking trip. To backpack to Guadalupe Peak, request a free permit from the visitor center. The backcountry campsite is about a mile away from the peak.

Stargazing at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas

Relax after a day of hiking by spending the night stargazing. With some of the darkest skies in Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is an incredible place to stargaze. On a clear night, the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park (Day 3)

After a night of skygazing in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, drive 45 minutes to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and spend the morning exploring Carlsbad Caverns on a self-guided tour. At Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll see spectacular cave formations inside The Big Room, the largest single cave chamber in North America. To avoid crowds and experience the quiet peacefulness of the caverns, arrive early to purchase entrance tickets at the visitor center and then enter the cave as soon as it opens.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park The Big Room

To enter the cave, visitors may choose to take the elevator down or hike the natural entrance trail. The elevator is convenient, but be prepared for an amusement park feeling while passing by the gift shop, restaurant, and concession stands to get in line. By taking the natural entrance trail, hikers are able to experience more of the caverns and its unique formations. The natural entrance trail is 1.25 miles long and paved. The steep descent takes about 1 hour when going at a relaxed pace to enjoy the views.

Both the elevator and the natural entrance trail lead to The Big Room, an impressively large and aptly named chamber. Take the 1.25 mile paved trail around The Big Room to see various types of magnificent cave formations that have formed drip by drip over the past millions of years. The trail in The Big Room is flat and takes about 1.5 hours to complete including stops to enjoy the natural features of the cave.


Best Time of Year to Visit

Fall is the best time of year to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park. In October and November, the weather is a pleasant 60 to 70ºF during the day and 40 to 50ºF at night. In addition to great hiking weather, the fall is great for viewing the incredible fall foliage in the park. The fall colors in McKittrick Canyon and Devil’s Hall are typically at their peak around the end of November.

Carlsbad Caverns is 56ºF year round so any time of year is a good time to visit. For a unique spectacle, visit between May and October to see a bat flight. Each evening from spring through fall, hundreds of thousands of bats fly out of the cavern in search of food.


Camping in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

There are two developed campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Pine Springs Campground and Dog Canyon Campground. Camping is first come, first served so it is best to arrive early in the day to have a better chance of snagging a spot.

We recommend staying at Pine Springs Campground when visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pine Springs Campground has many campsites available and is conveniently located near the best hiking trails in the park. Dog Canyon Campground is located on the other side of the park and is a 2 hour drive away from the main entrance and popular trails.

Backcountry campgrounds are available in Guadalupe Mountains as well. Free permits for these campsites can be obtained from the Pine Springs Visitor Center or Dog Canyon Ranger Station.


Camping in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

There are no developed campgrounds in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Only primitive backcountry camping is available. Free permits for backcountry camping can be obtained from the Visitor Center.


What to Pack

For ideas on what gear and clothing to bring on your trip, check out our packing list here.


Time Zones

Time Zones: Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns are near a time zone border so your clocks may not update correctly. If you need to be in a certain place at a specific time, double check the current time and keep in mind that Guadalupe Mountains National Park is in the Central Time Zone and Carlsbad Caverns is in the Mountain Time Zone.


Wind

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is notorious for bouts of VERY strong winds with gusts over 60 miles per hour. Keep an eye on the forecast and be sure to stake down your tent very well! Hiking to Guadalupe Peak is best on a day with low winds.


More Hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

For more hiking trail ideas to add to your Guadalupe Mountains & Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary, visit our guide on the best hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

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