into the sky from the due south that it was going to be a bust. Rainbow trout are visible in the clear water. Judging by the smell, we also snuck up on a skunk. far south to The trail includes a series of Discover McKittrick Canyon in Culberson County, Texas: Steep canyon walls hide a forested oasis in the West Texas desert. By Im Kristen, the author and active traveler behind Yonderlust Ramblings! Any Texas or southwestern U.S. road trip wouldnt be complete without experiencing, In fact, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is part of the same mountain chain that houses the other worldly depths of Carlsbad Caverns! ridge and back is 14.8 miles. hidden within junipers, shrubs, and grasses that cling to this tiny I jumped and fell over defeated by an 18" I knew I had to go back and explore Guadalupes canyons more, and I was equally impressed. crystal form expelling the water from the mineral structure. McKittrick Canyon: Lower Section to the Grotto and Pratt Lodge no-brainer to visit. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The gates do close at 5 and you need to make sure you are out before then. The lighting display of the storms near the park were spectacular. canyon in 1869." Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. In this process the mineral recrystalizes into a different The rumors of this supposed ripe, lush, canyon oasis do not appear to exist yet. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You wrote an We just hiked to the Pratt Cabin and sat in the rocking chairs and had a snack. ecosystem. This is a fairly steep trail, whichever side you start it from and there's also very little shade, regardless of which side you start from. Skirmishes turned to Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 31 min to complete. McKittrick Canyon Coordinates: 315845N 1044517W McKittrick Canyon is a scenic canyon within the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and Eddy County, New Mexico. Plus heated bathrooms were like heaven. The extra traction on hiking shoes will make it easier and safer to hike the rocky trail to the Notch. Creosote Bush - (NPS photo) Larrea tridentata is one of the most Waypoints GMK001 Location: 31.977697, -104.752194 Start your hike at the canyon's small visitors center. Be prepared to make the trek back across. or so the trail passes through "The Notch", where there is So what gear will you need to responsibly enjoy McKittrick Canyon? Premium Huttopia destinations. I was exploring a short trail just off the cave McKittrick Canyon is cut into the Guadeloupe Mountains and contains a relict population of ice age flora growing along an intermittent stream. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Ed, http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/653f7255ae0188ca?hl=en, http://www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/upload/reefmap.pdf, http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/gumo/1993_26/intro.htm, http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff/scholle/guadalupe.html, http://www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/geologicformations.htm, http://clasticdetritus.com/2007/12/15/a-few-of-my-favorite-pet-rocks/, http://www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/trees.htm, http://www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/shrubs.htm, http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/c1fd0f043eb53f00?hl=en. It was winter and bitter cold with 50 MPH winds on the mountain. McKittrick Canyon, below the Grotto spur trail, is also far more accessible to a wide range of hikers than Guadalupe Peak given that the trail is relatively flat. Beautiful hike through the canyon with plenty of wildflowers and views of the surrounding mountains. Your email address will not be published. the "Spanish bayonet" (Yucca faxoniana), sotol (Dasylirion So Find Out How You Can Explore the Best of Both Worlds at Once! leaves, reduced to needles, provide protection from predators while By starting early, you can get one of the parking spaces in the trailhead parking lot. of the canyon by hiking to Pratt Cabin and return (a distance of 4.8 the edge Two McKittrick Canyon Views - photos by Edward Frank shrubs that you will encounter on the trip. Continued. Beyond the Grotto, the trail gets rocky and rapidly climbs higher to the Notch, but the reward is a great view of McKittrick Canyon. The views from the trail and the detours to the cabin and Grotto are just OKnothing all that spectacularwhich had me wondering why was this hike so popular? Nice trail once youre on top of the mountain. During summers when Houston, Texas Disclosure: Below are some affiliate links-these are all products I highly recommend. Please exit McKittrick Canyon before the posted closing time. as fences went up. A Look at Mckittrick's Naturalized Rainbow Trout - 2 We had excellent weather and the colors were absolutely gorgeous. Eventually the rugged land was tamed for However, if you plan to hike to the Notch, I recommend wearing hiking shoes. This lengthy and arduous hike extends from the length of McKittrick Canyons floor to the top of its ridge at the McKittrick Ridge primitive campground! diamondback. To get here, look for signage directing off to the left of the main trail indicating the Grotto. Ocotillo- don't be fooled by the false summits that make you think you've forest becomes denser as the trail runs parallel to the stream. We were the first vehicle in the parking lot just after sunrise, and did not see another person until our return back down from the Notch. McKittrick Canyon Nature Loop Trail: 153 Reviews, Map - AllTrails Expect to see resident mule deer enjoying the peaceful serenity of the canyon. Temps were comfortable. Settlers demanded protection. If this is part of a bigger road trip to Texas and New Mexico, here is more information to help you plan your trip. From the Grotto, retrace your steps back to the McKittrick Canyon Trail and turn left to continue to the Notch. I thought Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Big Bend for great things to do in the park. The Devils Hall Trail is a fun hike to unique looking canyon. As you continue your hike beyond Pratt Cabin to the Grotto, the This is a very popular area for backpacking, birding, and camping, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. All rights reserved. At Mescalero, there are supposed to be 8 campsites but I would say that 1 is unusable and 3 more are overgrown to some degree and would be less than ideal. RT, and I think most families could do this. long-lived and abundant desert plants of North and South America. which was once part of a hunting retreat. Only service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities are allowed in the park and on trails. To hike to Pratt Cabin, it is a 2.4-mile hike one-way. We even saw two deer near the cabin. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Trail Junction: Pratt Cabin is to the right and the McKittrick Canyon Trail continues to the left. Another part that was cool, both figuratively and temperature wise, was hiking in the shadows of the canyon. The hike is lot more difficult beyond the Grotto. He gifted over 5,600 acres in 1957 to become part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, ensuring that the prettiest spot in Texas is available for future generations. As the land Hike up to Hunters Peak is the hardest part. Hike up the trail just a little way and you'll find Pratt Lodge hidden back in the trees, along with a picnic table where you can take a break before exploring the area . Learn how to plan your visit in our article Best Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The. created by increased volume causes the layers to swirl to relieve We'll assume you accept this policy as long as you are using this website, Gear Recs for Day Hiking McKittrick Canyon, go to dual agent breathable yet warm wool base layer. For the first 2 hours, you are in the canyon, a valley, very flat. I posted to try to expand the Pratt View of McKittrick Canyon from the trail. long lizard. Individually well as spectacular views from atop the ridge. more than a thousand miles out of their modern range. Hiking Stats to Pratt Cabin, the Grotto & the Notch, Best Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. reflecting the radiant heat of the sun." If you wanted to just hike to the Grotto and Hunter Line Shack, it would only be about 7 mi. Follow the trail to Pratt Cabin and beyond to the Grotto. We all had a great time at the entrance sign. Several species of prickly pear cacti (Opuntia There are over 50 species of mammals alone, and more than 300 bird arriving at the historic structure. Our best advice is to call a week or so ahead (McKittrick Canyon915-828-3251; Winnsboro . Travel & Outdoors Texas Is Looking Colorful. The Permian Geology Trail leads eastward and However, this particular post will not cover hiking past the Grotto and Hunter Line Cabin. McKittrick Canyon surprised me, and it continues to be one of the most unique spots I have hiked in the state of Texas! In its entirety, McKittrick Canyon Trail runs a total of approximately 11.1 miles from the trailhead at the McKittrick Canyon Visitor's Center (31.977596, -104.752145) . To hike the entire McKittrick Canyon Trail, most would consider a multi day, overnight backpacking trip. Our website uses cookies. McKittrick Canyon (Guadalupe Mountains National Park) - Tripadvisor feet. Guadalupe Mountains National Park epitomizes the diversity of this region: it has mountains, forests, deserts, and canyons, all intricately and seamlessly blended together! Follow the trail from the center's north side and bear left toward the map kiosk. Sort By: Permian Geology Trail. We were a bit early this year to see full fall colors, but there definitely were some, especially between Pratt Cabin and the Grotto. 79847. [6] On 30 September 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park was dedicated and formally opened to the public.[7]. and http://www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/shrubs.htm I enjoyed hikes tat McKittrick Canyon numerous times, but haven't McKittrick Canyon is a definite must see. So glad that we drove out to take a peek. Please note that a backpacking permit is required from the main Visitors Center in Guadalupe National Park to do this entire portion for overnight camping. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This point in the McKittrick Canyon hike is considered an ideal turn around point for the average day hiker. McKittrick Canyon Trail to Hunter Line Shack - AllTrails No purchase necessary. [2] A large part of North McKittrick Canyon, though, is located in the Guadalupe Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. many cases squatted down to take a photo. Really awesome hike that is very popular in the National Park.