Guadalupe Peak Trail – 31.89140°N / 104.86°W
What does it actually mean to be standing in the highest point in Texas? To a 5 year old, it is a HUGE deal. Then throw in a low cloud base and some nice cool weather to make the perfect ascent of Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Our journey from El Paso to the park at 4:00 am was quite eventful. The monsoon rains dumped our annual share of precipitation on us during the short hour and forty-five minute trip. The front pushed the low level system east, blanketing the Guadalupe Mountains in fluffy clouds. To our surprise, they would remain the entirety of our trip.
This would be my son’s toughest hike to date, but a challenge that he greeted with excitement, The Adventure Boys were back in action. Even at such an early hour, 3:30 am, he awoke with ease at the mere mention of our big adventure. He has been waiting for this day for several weeks.
Despite the drive and the rain, we hit the trailhead ready for a great day. We hiked and made up silly songs, and talked about the important things like Hotwheels, corndogs, and farts. We were Adventure Boys. Before I knew it we had been hiking for two hours. It would continue on in the same manner for the next two hours, all the way to the summit.
I worried about how long he would last before he was ready to turn around, but to my delight he was committed to go all the way. He wanted to sit on the top of Texas.
We hiked through rain and fog and fought the slippery trail, but eventually we found our place at the top. We were rewarded with an amazing view of a beautiful sunny day above the cloud line. Due to the rain and fog there was no traffic on the mountain. It gave us an opportunity to sit and talk, and soak up the beauty that surrounded us.
It took nearly six and a half hours for us to ascend and hike back down. I am proud of him for his eagerness to explore and enjoy hearing his perspective of life and the world around him. This is why we go on adventures. Our bond as father and son is strengthened on each outing.
There is no better teaching moments then the ones that nature provides. For that reason, we will continue to learn and grow through our adventures.
Sincerely,
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
This wilderness area preserves the largest exposed fossil reef on Earth, showcasing remnants from an underwater world that existed 260 million years ago when this part of West Texas was covered by the sea. Visitors can explore the park’s striking mountains or hike a stream bed through the winding limestone walls of McKittrick Canyon, where deciduous trees and other vegetation stand in vibrant contrast with the surrounding desert.
State(s): Texas
Established: 1972
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Having been to over 30 national parks, we didn't expect an early morning visit on March 5, 2019 to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to be one of our most memorable experiences. While driving into the park on the way to the visitor center, we noticed a majestic scene unlike anything…
-
Greetings from Guadalupe Mountains National Park
In July 1978 my wife and I climbed Guadalupe Peak and signed the summit register. Our daughter was born in May 1979. My wife died in July 2002, and my daughter and I climbed Guadalupe as a memorial to her and we signed the summit register. At the ranger station…
-
Greetings from Guadalupe Mountains National Park
We hit the Guadalupe Mountain Trail early on a March morning after driving eighty miles east of El Paso, Texas through a great salt flat as white as snow. We soon met a Bavarian girl on the trail when we all stopped to put on heavy sweaters in a fiercely…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now