Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other.
Photo: NPS/Bieri / NPS
About Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, an environmentally diverse collection of flora and fauna, and the stories of lives shaped through conflict, cooperation and survival.
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Driving times from Guadalupe Mountains National Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Entrance fees
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00An entrance fee of $10 per person (16 years of age and older) is required; entrance fees/passes permit 1-7 consecutive days of use in this national park. Holders of the Annual, Senior, Military, 4th grade and Access Pass can bring in 3 adults free of charge under their pass. Any pass must be displayed in a vehicle while in the national park.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
FreeEntrance fee waivers are available to groups when the purpose of their visit is educational rather than recreational. Completed applications along with required documentation must be submitted via email. Fee waiver requests must be submitted at least six weeks before a scheduled visit to allow for consideration.
Hours
Pine Springs
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Salt Basin Dunes
- Mon
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Tue
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Wed
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Thu
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Fri
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Sat
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Sun
- Sunrise to Sunset
McKittrick Canyon
- Mon
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tue
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wed
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thu
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Fri
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sat
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sun
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Frijole Ranch
- Mon
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Tue
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Wed
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Thu
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Fri
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Sat
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Sun
- Sunrise to Sunset
Dog Canyon
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
The Guadalupe Mountains are known for high winds year-round; gusts can reach 60MPH or higher. In winter the mountains experiences occasional, light snowfalls which seldom last more than a day. From May through October, temperatures vary with highs between 80F-100F+ with lows in the 40F-60F range. November to April is generally milder with highs in between 50F-70F with lows in the 30F-50F range. Elevations above 8,000’ will be about 10F cooler than headquarters, with corresponding wind-chill.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to enter Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
- Entrance to Guadalupe Mountains National Park starts at $10. See the fees section above for each pass and vehicle type.
- What is there to do at Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
- Popular activities include Auto Off-Roading, Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Birdwatching, Camping.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Guadalupe Mountains National Park?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Carlsbad Caverns National Park (3 h 37 min), Chamizal National Memorial (3 h 56 min), Blackwell School National Historic Site (4 h 26 min), Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail (4 h 32 min), Fort Davis National Historic Site (4 h 51 min), El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (6 h 39 min).