How hard is the Guadalupe Peak hike?

The Guadalupe Peak hike is considered hard. It climbs about 3,000 feet over 8.4 miles round-trip, starting at roughly 5,700 feet elevation. Most hikers take 6 to 8 hours to complete it.

How long does it take to hike Guadalupe Peak?

Plan on 4 to 8 hours depending on fitness, weather, and breaks. The first 1.5 miles are the steepest, while the middle section levels out before the final climb to the summit.

Where is the Guadalupe Peak trailhead?

The trailhead is at the Pine Springs Trailhead in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Salt Flat, Texas. It’s about 1 hour 45 minutes from El Paso and 1 hour west of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Do you need a permit for Guadalupe Peak?

No hiking permit is needed for a day hike, but there is a $10 per-person park entrance fee. Backcountry camping near the summit requires a free wilderness permit available at the Pine Springs Visitor Center.

What is the best time to hike Guadalupe Peak?

Fall and spring offer the best weather. Summer can bring triple-digit heat and afternoon thunderstorms, while winter can bring snow, ice, and high winds on the summit ridge.

Can you bring dogs on the Guadalupe Peak Trail?

No, dogs are not allowed on the Guadalupe Peak Trail or any backcountry trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Is there water on the Guadalupe Peak Trail?

No, there are no natural water sources along the trail. Fill up at the Visitor Center or campground before starting and bring at least 3 liters per person.

Can you camp on Guadalupe Peak?

Yes, there’s a small backcountry campground about a mile below the summit. It has tent pads but no water. You’ll need a wilderness permit and must pack out all waste.

Is the Guadalupe Peak Trail safe?

Yes, but conditions can be extreme. Expect high winds, temperature swings, and exposure near the summit. Carry extra layers, watch for rattlesnakes, and avoid the trail during storms or icy conditions.

What gear do you need for the Guadalupe Peak hike?

Bring sturdy hiking shoes or trail runners, trekking poles, 3 liters of water, sun protection, extra layers, and a headlamp. A GPS app or offline map helps with navigation, and a satellite SOS device adds safety in this remote area.

What is at the top of Guadalupe Peak?

At the summit is a stainless-steel pyramid marker installed by American Airlines in 1958, marking the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet. From the top, you can see the vast Chihuahuan Desert and El Capitan below.

What should you do if the parking lot is full?

If the Pine Springs Trailhead lot is full, park at the Visitor Center and walk up the road, which adds about a mile round-trip. Arriving at sunrise usually guarantees a spot.

PLAY VIDEO

Guadalupe Peak Hike Guide

At 8,751 feet, Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas and one of the most rewarding hikes in the USA. You’ll climb over 3,000 feet on the Guadalupe Peak Trail, starting in desert scrub and finishing above the clouds on an incredible summit ridge. It’s a tough but doable hike, and in this guide I’ll show you how to hike it safely yourself.

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated November 18, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance: 8.4 miles
Time: 4-8 hours
Total Climbing: 3000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Crowds: Moderate
Dogs: No Dogs
Gear: What I Use
Weather: Latest Report
Park: Guadalupe Mountains NP

Where is Guadalupe Peak?

Guadalupe Peak Location — Guadalupe Peak is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about 1h 45m from El Paso, Texas (by Ciudad Juarez on this map), and about 1 hour west of Carlsbad, NM.

Guadalupe Peak is remote.

There is no gas station between El Paso and the park, or Carlsbad and the park.
Bring all the food you need with you.
You can refill with water at the Visitor Center or at the campground by the trailhead.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is situated right on the edge of two time zones (Mountain and Central Standard Time), and the time on your phone could be incorrect.
If you're wondering where to stay to visit here, there are hotels in El Paso and Carlsbad, or stay at a campground in the park bookable on Recreation.gov.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Park Entrance — The entrance to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is off of US Rt 62.

Fees:

$10 Day Use

Get your America the Beautiful pass to enter.

You can pay the entrance fee at the Visitor Center or with credit card machines at the trailheads.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Visitor Center — Your first stop should be the Visitor Center, where you can pay the entrance fee, view interpretive displays, use restrooms, and visit the gift store.

Guadalupe Peak Trailhead Location — The actual trailhead is past the Visitor Center at the Pine Springs Trailhead parking lot.

Trailhead Address:

Pine Springs Trailhead, Salt Flat, TX 79847

Parking can be a big challenge for this hike. The main lot has about 44 spaces, but they can fill up quickly. Your best bet is to arrive at sunrise for the hike and you're generally assured to get a spot. As the morning progresses it can get tougher and tougher, and often after 730am the parking lot can be full. If the lot is full, you'll have to park at the Visitor Center (also not a big lot) and walk up from there. I'd say if you're going to come all the way here to do the hike, get here around sunrise.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Parking — If the trailhead parking at 1 is full, park at the Visitor Center (2) and walk up the road to the trail, which adds another mile or so to the hike.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Parking Lot — Show up early on a weekday and there's generally a place to park. This is 630am on a Monday.

Staying Safe

Guadaloupe Peak With Snow — Guadalupe Peak is a place of extremes, and there have been deaths here both in winter and in summer.

March-May

Usually good but can snow into April

June-August

Can be very hot and afternoon thunderstorms

September-November

Great time with fewer crowds

December-February

Take care - there can be deadly snow - ice- and wind chills

The main thing to watch out for is the weather. Conditions at 8,751 feet can be very different from those at the trailhead, so check the mountain forecast as well as the trailhead forecast before you go. I've heard that sometimes when the weather is extreme the rangers will turn hikers back before the summit. If the weather is questionable, call the Visitor Center.
Rattlesnakes live here and are most active in warmer months. If you see one sunning on the trail, give it space and wait for it to move off. They’re not aggressive unless provoked. If you’re putting your hands on rocks, look first, snakes often shelter in crevices.
If you have a medical condition affected by exertion or altitude, take it slow. The hike gains about 3,000 feet starting at roughly a mile above sea level, and it can be strenuous if you’re not used to big climbs.
Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in summer, and lightning is a serious risk on the exposed upper slopes and summit. If the weather turns bad, turn around.
Watch your footing on the way back down. The trail is rocky and it can be easy to roll an ankle.

Gear Recommendations

Guadalupe Peak Hike Navigating — Navigation is not too tough but I find it helpful to have some electronic navigation, either on my phone, watch, or GPS.

As I mentioned earlier, the summit has its own weather, so prepare by bringing an extra layer and shell. The winds can get up to 50-80 mph, so prepare accordingly.
Trekking poles are helpful when pacing uphill and when descending.
Trail runners work great on the Guadalupe Peak Trail.
Bring at least 3L of water, more if it's hot out. There are no springs or water sources along the hike. You can fill up at the campground by the trailhead or at the Visitor Center. I bring my full water with me before leaving for the park just in case those water sources are not in service.
Snacks like trail mix and protein bars are a good bet.
Most of the trial is exposed, so bring sun protection.
This is a proper backcountry hike, so make sure you have the essentials to stay overnight if you need to. That includes a headlamp in case you get caught out after dark on the descent.
Most of the hike has okay cell phone coverage so you can call 911, but I bring a satellite SOS device just in case.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
Altra Olympus 275: Favorite trail shoes right now, no blisters and very comfy.
AllTrails Plus (30% off): Offline maps on your phone with the Plus level
Full December 2025 Gear List →

Camping on Guadalupe Peak

Guadalupe Peak Hike Campsite — You can camp about a mile below the summit, but you have to carry everything up the climb yourself.

There’s a small backcountry campground about a mile below the summit, accessible only by hiking up the Guadalupe Peak Trail. It has a few tent pads and no water, so you’ll need to carry everything you need, including extra water for the night and descent. Camping here gives you a head start for sunrise or sunset at the summit, but be prepared for strong winds and cold temperatures, even in warmer months. Permits are required and available at the Pine Springs Visitor Center or on Recreation.gov in advance.

After the first mile or so of climbing, it enters the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness, and from there all human waste and toilet paper must be carried out. Bring a WAG Bag in case you have to "take care of business."

Guadalupe Peak Trail Maps

Guadalupe Peak Hike Trail Sign — There are a decent amount of signs along the way to point you in the right direction.

View Interactive Map

View Map Here on HikingGuy

Interactive Map

Print Map, Work With It Yourself

View Hike on CalTopo

Bring the Track to Any GPS

Download the GPX File

Elevation Profile

It's hard to tell from the profile, but the first 1.5 miles are toughest, then you have a more gradual climb. The last 0.75 miles to the summit are steep and tough.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions

Mile 0 - 1.5: The Big Effort

The first 1.5 miles is the hardest part for many hikers. It's steep, rocky, and doesn't offer many spots to catch your breath.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 1 — The trailhead is at the end of the Pine Springs Trailhead parking lot.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 2 — You'll see signs for other trails here. Luckily after the first 10 minutes we'll be on the Guadalupe Peak Trail and it's a lot easier.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 3 — After a minute or two there's a junction with the Tejas Trail. Make the hard left toward Guadalupe Peak.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 4 — The trail doesn't waste much time in letting you know you'll have to climb about 3000 feet.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 5 — At about 0.1 miles bear left and straight toward Guadalupe Peak. Don't make the hard left here on the El Capitan Trail.

The El Capitan Trail goes to a viewpoint below it. There is no official trail to the top of El Capitan.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 8 — The trail gets steeper, climbing up rocky and uneven stairs.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 9 — There are several switchbacks as you climb.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 7 — You'll get some great views into Pine Spring Canyon. The high point on the other side of the canyon is Hunter Peak, about 380 feet lower than Guadalupe Peak.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 10 — At about 0.75 miles go straight at the junction with the Horse Trail.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 11 — As you climb the trail gets rockier in places. Here's a sign warning livestock riders to dismount.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 12 — This looks worse than it is in real life, but there are a few parts of the trail with a sheer drop to the side. The trail is generally about 4 feet wide. Unless you have an acute fear of heights, you should be fine.

Mile 1.5-3.3: The Breather

After the initial tough climb, the grade eases and you traverse a north-facing slope where the cooler temperatures allow for evergreens like Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pines.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 13 — You'll turn a corner from a switchback and then start entering the forest at around 7000 feet.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 14 — At around 2.25 miles the main trail goes straight, but there's a short spur to the left with an incredible viewpoint. I marked it in the GPX file as well.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 15 — Here's the view to the south from the viewpoint.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 16 — Continuing up the trail to about 3.1 miles, you'll pass the turnoff for the campground on your right. Stay straight to head up to the summit.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 17 — Pass over the bridge on a short downhill section.

Mile 3.4-4.2: The Last Push

There's no getting around it, the last mile to the summit is steep and tough, especially if you're not used to the effort or altitude. Take your time, take breaks, and take it step by step.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 18 — The trail is steep and rocky. Always look for switchbacks as you climb, it can be easy to miss them on the rocky sections.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 19 — Keep your eyes open for the distinctive shape that is the back of El Capitan.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 20 — If you look up you should start to see the summit marker.

Guadalupe Peak Hike Directions 21 — Toward the summit is a small spur where riders can tie up livestock. Stay straight on the rocky trail toward the summit.

Cris Hazzard on Guadalupe Peak, Texas — And here you are, Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet. Enjoy the views of the vast Chihuahuan Desert.

Miles 4.2-8.4: The Descent

Don't underestimate the return journey. Many hikers find concentrating on footing during the 4.2-mile descent to be surprisingly difficult and fatiguing. The constant downhill impact on the steep, rocky terrain can be tough on the knees and leg muscles. Trekking poles really come in handy on this stretch.