We inaugurated our camping gear on a trip to Guadalupe Mountains, a mountain range on the border of West Texas and New Mexico. Home to the four highest peaks in Texas, two national parks and cool summer nights, the region promises a memorable off-the-beaten-path camping trip.

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Getting There

The Guadalupe Mountains are shared by Texas and New Mexico. The southern part of the park is only 100 miles east of the Mexican border. There are two national parks located just 30 minutes apart within the mountain range: Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas and Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.

Thanks to their remote location, a trip to Guadalupe Mountains is sure to be an off-the-beaten-path adventure. The closest city with an airport in New Mexico is Albuquerque, a five-hour drive from the national park entrances. We drove in from Dallas, crossing Oil and Gas Land before reaching the Land of Enchantment. West Texas has nothing but pump jacks on the horizon, making the seven hour-drive a tedious one.

Where to Stay

Setting up camp under a sky full of stars is the best way to enjoy the remoteness of this region, but even camping options are limited. Carlsbad Caverns National Park has no campgrounds and Guadalupe Mountains National Park houses three small primitive campgrounds with no showers. We opted for a stay at Carlsbad KOA to have more amenities, including showers. The KOA is quietly located off the highway and has a fitting New Mexico feel to it.

Weekend Itinerary

Day 1: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

We left early from Dallas and headed straight to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, arriving shortly after lunch. Carlsbad Caverns comprises more than 100 limestone caves with beautiful rock formations. Besides a national park, this unique underground cave system is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You can explore the caverns at your own pace or go on a ranger-led tour. Two popular self-guided trails are the Big Room Trail and Natural Entrance Trail, which can be combined on a 2.5-mile round-trip hike. We took the elevator down to the Big Room Trail and hiked our way back out through the Natural Entrance Trail. With 800 feet of elevation gain over just 1.25 miles, it is a short but sweet climb.

Day 2: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

On our second day, we prepared for a hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are a lot of trails to pick from, but only one that leads to the highest point in Texas. At 8,749 feet, Guadalupe Peak is the highest peak in the entire state.

The Guadalupe Peak Trail starts at the Pine Springs Visitor Center, adding up to 9 miles out-and-back and 3,000 feet of elevation gain. The first part of the hike is also the most strenuous, especially under a merciless Texas sun. Guadalupe Peak doesn’t appear on the horizon until the very last part of the hike. Once you make it to the top, you are rewarded with 360-degree views that seem to stretch all across Texas.

Optional Day 3: White Sands National Park

With an extra day to spare, you could explore the third national park in the region. White Sands National Park is one of the newest additions to the national parks list and just a 2.5 hour drive from Carlsbad.

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