Guadalupe Peak: The Highest Point in Texas

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I’ve been wanting to hike to the highest point in Texas for a while now.  I finally made it to Guadalupe Mountains National Park this past April and knocked out Guadalupe Peak.  I’m surprised I overlooked this National Park when I was visiting Carlsbad Caverns during a year long road trip across the USA.  I was less than 30 miles away from the park that otherwise requires some effort to reach, as indicated by the many “No Gas” sign warnings dotting the highway.

Getting to Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Carlsbad, New Mexico is approximately 50 miles north of the park and the closest public airport to Guadalupe Peak is in El Paso, 110 miles to the southwest.  Definitely come with a full tank of gas and provisions to complete this 8.1-mile roundtrip hike that begins at the Pine Springs entrance.

Table of Contents

Guadalupe Peak Trail

• Distance: 8.1 Miles
• Highest Point: 8,934 feet
• Elevation Gain: 2,949 feet
• PSA: The Park is on MOUNTAIN time, not Central time. Your phone will likely be wrong!
• No Dogs Allowed

Preparing for Guadalupe Peak

The hike to Guadalupe Peak, which gains approximately 3,000 feet over 4 miles, shares the trailhead with El Capitan Trail and Devil’s Hall Trail (another must see).  Of course, hiking to the highest point in Texas, 8,934 feet, has the biggest draw, so you will find the most hikers on this trail.

Being in a National Park, the 5-8 hour hike requires a fee which may be placed in the lock box at the trailhead next to the signboard.  Or if you plan on visiting several national parks, you might consider buying an annual parks pass prior to arriving or at the Visitor Center.

It is worth dropping into the Visitor Center to learn a little about the park before hiking as that way you will know what to look out for whether it be fossils from the world’s largest exposed reef or a variety of wildlife.

It is smart to check the weather for the hike to Guadalupe Peak because it may be scorching hot at the base, but extremely cold and windy at the top.

When I arrived at the Guadalupe Peak trailhead on a Wednesday in April around sunrise, there were plenty of parking spaces available.  On the information board near the rest rooms there was a weather forecast.

I looked forward to mild temperatures, sustained 20 mph winds, gusting to 40.  It was a perfect day compared to the blustery 70 mph winds the previous day.

Hiking Guadalupe Peak

With my pack filled with water, snacks, extra layers, a first aid kit, and few more of the 10 essentials, I set off up the rocky trail.

In the first quarter mile, the path intersects with a few other routes.  Fortunately, Guadalupe Peak Trail is well marked, but if in doubt, pick the steepest option! 😊  All kidding aside, the hike gains altitude quickly, so flatlanders beware.  Those who hike in the Rocky Mountains, no worries!

The South Side of Guadalupe Peak Trail

For the first 1.5 miles or so, I followed the trail of man-made log stairs and switch backs through high desert terrain.  The south facing slope features juniper, mesquite, a few spring flowers, blooming cacti, and afternoon sunning lizards. 

For the most part I kept a steady pace zigzagging up the 3-4 foot wide, single track while passing the few hikers that got an earlier start.  The sunny skies and light wind made for a pleasant morning, even when there was one section with a bit of exposure.

Fortunately for me, who has a fear of falling, the warning signs, the short distance, and relatively wide path made for smooth sailing.  It was far easier than Missouri Mountain that made me burst into tears out of fear!  Additionally, the limited exposure was hard rock, not the scree which covered a lot of the trail.

The North Side of the Guadalupe Peak Trail

After the steepest part of the climb, the trail turns around the mountain to the north side featuring cooler temperatures, strong winds, and a pine forest.  Over this mile, Guadalupe Peak comes into view.  I wouldn’t have known this if it weren’t for the friendly ranger who stopped me to chat during my decent. Somehow, I never focused on the peak.  I was too busy looking at the beautiful views of the below valleys.

Around the third mile the trail tops out at a false summit and then descends slightly across a cool bridge!  I couldn’t help but be grateful for the people who built it!  And I’m flabbergasted by the few signs that provide directions to horse riders. 

I ride horses, and you could not pay me to ride a horse up this trail, especially all the way to the hitching posts which are slightly below the peak. In fact, the friendly ranger mentioned that the trail has eroded from all the use, and they discourage horseback riding, but others mention it so people think it can be done.  I highly recommend riding elsewhere, even on mules!

The Final Ascent

The final ascent, with one more tiny place of exposure, provides magnificent views of El Capitan towering over mountains, desert, and even farmland.  Guadalupe Peak, capped with a triangular metal marker dedicated to stagecoach drivers and airmen, has room for several trekkers on its summit.

That said, the wind is ferocious!  Fortunately, I had the summit to myself.  A few people who went for sunrise were already long gone as we crossed paths early on and the others hadn’t made it up with the exception of one guy who was terrified of heights but conquering them as he cautiously descended the peak.

After snapping several photos while carefully keeping my balance in the 40 mph wind, I found a small, protected area on the south side overlooking El Capitan.  I took some time to refuel and enjoy the views before a few fellow adventurers joined me.

The Descent

Soon I retraced my footsteps on the out and back trail and fielded a handful of questions along the way. 

A father with a couple kids asked the elevation and how much further.  That’s when my trusty All Trails app came in handy.  I could pinpoint our location with the trail downloaded as cell service wasn’t available.

The kids were hilarious. “Did you already finish?” they asked in amazement.  “This is taking forever. My legs are about to fall off,” they shouted as they trudged along!  Dad was trying to give them encouragement in 30-minute increments.

Two older gentlemen asked if it was “this windy the rest of the way” just as they turned to the north facing side.

“Yes, and even windier at the top!”

Another young man in a short-sleeved shirt carrying a plastic gallon of water in his hand wondered if it was cold at the top.  He was from Arizona and was used to the now warm conditions at the bottom enjoyed by the flowers, butterflies, and lizards.

I thought to myself, I’d be more worried about my arm getting tired of carrying an eight-pound jug!  But I told him, “the wind made it cold, but he could stand it for a bit.”

Finally, two more ladies stopped me.  They pointed to two different peaks and asked, “which one is Guadalupe Peak?”

I turned around and looked, “neither, you can’t see it yet!”  That was probably a little demoralizing to hear, but they hadn’t made it very far.

With all the questions I fielded and a leisurely pace, I ended up taking the same amount of time to ascend and descend, about 2.5 hours both ways.  With the time I spent at the top, it took me, a fit 50+ year old lady, 5.5 hours to hike Guadalupe Peak, the top of Texas! ETB

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