The 3 Hardest Hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a kick-your-ass kind of park. Coloradians may turn their noses up at us but consider this: Guadalupe Peak has a total ascent of about 4,278. That’s comparable to (harder than, actually) many of the “easier” 14er hikes. Hell, the standard route on Colorado’s popular 14er Mount Sherman gains a mere … Read more

Black Gap Road: Mind the Gap

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Author’s note: the following is a story of brazen stupidity.  While the subjects of this story made it through unscathed, many lessons were learned and I strongly recommend against doing anything like this. This story is for educational and entertainment purposes only and I strongly recommend against making the same choices. Two Mistakes We Made … Read more

Don’t Shit Where You Hike – Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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It was my first foray into Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I’d just ascended to the highest point in the world (or at least in Texas, which is the only thing that really counts. Fuck Everest.). With much moaning and complaining, but that’s besides the point. Sore legs are nothing when nature calls and you’re deep … Read more

Exploring the Salt Basin Dunes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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One of the coolest fucking things about Guadalupe Mountains National Park is just how diverse its landscape is and the Salt Basin Dunes drive this home. In fact, these gypsum salt dunes may just be the most unique biosphere within the park. Recommended Supplies What is a Salt Basin? To the West of the Guadalupe … Read more

Rock Garden Trail: Steep, but worth it

Sweeping view of Palo Duro Canyon from the top of the Rock Garden Trail

This trail’s claim to fucking fame is that it is the one and only trail in the park that takes hikers from the floor of the canyon to the rim. Once I figured out that this was probably the steepest trail in the park, I simply had to put my legs to the test on … Read more

Lower Comanche Trail: The Perfect Hike for Exploring Palo Duro

Palo Duro Canyon opens up from a vantage point along Lower Comanche Trail

This trail, named from the Comanche Native Americans who, long ago, supplanted the Apache people that lived in this area, can be accessed from the Soapberry Spur (where there is a restroom!) or the equestrian area at the southern end of the park. It is typically red dirt packed with some rock underfoot in some … Read more