Guadalupe Mountains National Park is in the vast Chihuahuan Desert of western Texas. It’s known for its bright-white Salt Basin Dunes, wildlife-rich grassland and fossilized reef mountains. The Guadalupe Peak Trail weaves up through a conifer forest to the state’s highest summit, with views of the rocky El Capitan peak to the south. In the north, the McKittrick Canyon Trail is known for its colorful fall foliage.
Named for the mountain range that dominates the landscape, Guadalupe Mountains National Park contains the four highest peaks in Texas, and boasts an impressive share of backcountry acreage. If all that sounds a little foreboding for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, then think again. The park also contains a historic stage stop as well as the ruins of an 1800s ranch — both of which are wheelchair-accessible, and can be easily reached from Highway 62/180, which runs from El Paso to Carlsbad and passes through the southwest section of the park. Not only is Guadalupe Mountains National Park a destination by itself, but it also makes a nice add-on to a Carlsbad Caverns visit. Either way, it’s a good choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers who want to explore a bit of southwest history.
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.
Accessibility
Visitor Centers
The Pine Springs, Dog Canyon, and McKittrick Canyon visitor centers are all accessible.
Accessible features found at the centers include designated parking spaces, accessible restrooms, drinking fountains, paved nature trail, and a captioned park slide show.
Accessible Trails
The Pinery Trail departs from the Pine Springs Visitor Center. This 0.7 mile paved trail leads to the ruins of a mid-1800s Butterfield stagecoach station and features exhibits about the plants of the Chihuahuan Desert. The ruins can also be reached off US 62/180 a quarter-mile from the Pine Springs Visitor Center.
The Manzanita Spring Trail is a paved half-mile trail that departs from the Frijole Ranch parking lot. Trail leads to Manzanita Spring and through the orchard once belonging to the Smith family.
Picnic Areas
The Frijole Ranch Parking has three large shade structures with picnic tables, water fountains, and vault toilets.
Service Animals
Service Animals as defined by titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act are excepted and are permitted in park buildings, restrooms, at public programs, and in the backcountry; service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities are allowed in the park.
Emotional support (“therapy animals”) are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and may not access buildings, trails or other non-motorized areas.
