Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park - April 21, 2003

Guadalupe Mountains

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a relatively new National Park, established in 1966. It lies just over the state border from New Mexico in Texas, in the Chihuahuan desert, very close (within 15 minutes of) Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Since they were so close together, I visited both in a single day.

I had actually planned on spending more time at Guadalupe Mountains. Since it was farthest from my camp site, it was my first stop (the thought being that I would then visit Carlsbad Caverns on the way back). But, weather being weather, it did not cooperate during my visit. It was cold, chilly, windy, and a bit rainy of all things. Not much fun. I did walk around a bit but just did not like shivering. Therefore, I cut my visit short and headed off, earlier than expected, the Carlsbad Caverns and back to New Mexico.

What I hear, however, is that the really good and scenic parts of Guadalupe Mountains National Park lie deep inside the park. To really see them and experience them, one should hike into the depths of the park. I, however, had not planned on that much time and, as stated, wasn't particularly overjoyed with the weather.

P.S. Later that day, the weather shifted. It became sunny and 80 degrees.