Guadalupe Mountains National Park

After watching weeks of high wind advisories at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we managed to sneak in on a (relatively) calm day. The RV camping area is just a large parking lot, but it’s a parking lot with fantastic views in a great location to hike and explore the park. There are no reserved spaces, so with fingers crossed, we got in around 11:30am and snagged the next to last spot. The guy we passed on the way up the mountain (yeah, diesel power!) actually got the last space. Lol.

Outta the way, we're coming through.
Making time on the road to Guadalupe Mountains National Park campground.

Worth a little hustle to get this incredible view from our campsite.

Full moon rising against a backdrop of cotton candy clouds. Gorgeous!

We’re here for four nights with plans for a couple of shorter hikes, a try for the summit of Guadalupe Peak, and a day trip into New Mexico to visit Carlsbad Caverns.  Whew! We will be busy!

It is hard to imagine these towering peaks were once an ocean reef. The inland sea evaporated, the reef was buried under thick layers of sediment and mineral salts and it was hidden for millions of years until a seismic uplift exposed part of the reef creating the Guadalupe, Apache, and Glass Mountains. It is so cool to see fossils of ancient sea creatures high in the desert mountains! 

El Capitan (8085 ft) and Guadalupe Peak (8751 ft) to the right.  Pretty cool for an old ocean reef. :) 

The canyons are especially lovely to hike because the springs and sheltered environment allow a huge variety of plants and animals to thrive that just couldn’t survive in the harsher desert. Of course, that includes people too and there are several old ranches and historic buildings located in the park.

Our first hike was to Smith Springs from the old Frijoles Ranch. Rog just loves finding water in the desert and it does make for a much more pleasant hike.

Heading into the canyon.

Going from desert....

... to a lovely pool and ...

... a small creek. All compliments of Smith Spring.

Now you see me, now you don't!

The surrounding mountains have a stark beauty.

The day we planned to do the McKittrick Canyon hike to the Grotto, we woke up to a solid bank of fog. After several hours the clouds lifted and we had sunshine and blue skies at the campground. Ok, we're good to go. Well maybe not, just seven miles down the road at the trailhead it was still socked in. We figured it would burn off soon and actually enjoyed watching the surrounding mountains slowly reveal themselves as we hiked. The trail followed a stream through different environments - starting in desert, then through a transition area, and into canyon woodlands. It is such a disconnect to see cactus growing next to maples and oak. Lol. We loved the wooded areas and the small cave-like grotto was shaded and cool. It looked like the mouth of some ancient beast with worn and broken teeth.

 

Hmmmm.. wonder what is hiding under the clouds.

Rog stepping carefully across the creek.

So fun to find water in the desert.

I loved theTexas Madrones. Some had red bark and others were bright white. 

Do not be fooled by the innocent look - it's not as soft and fluffy as it appears! Ask me how I know. Lol.  

The historic Pratt cabin, nice place for a break. 

The grotto. The cave mouth is pink stone with gnarly teeth. 

Rog entering the maw of the beast. :)

Close up of the beautiful colors in the lichen and rock formations. 

So this is what the morning clouds were hiding!

Had to believe these dry streambeds are ever full, but we saw plenty of evidence of high water and flooding.

Our trip to Carlsbad Caverns will get its own post – probably a good idea since I took over 250 pictures! Lol. Trying to get that whittled down is going to be tough, if you don’t like caves better skip that post. 😊