Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground
The Quick Take
This is not a campground in any conventional sense -- it is five exposed tent pads clinging to a knoll at nearly 8,000 feet, a mile below the highest point in Texas. You earn every inch of it with a punishing 2,200-foot climb over three miles from Pine Springs. There are no toilets, no water, no shelter from the relentless wind that rips across this ridge with startling regularity. What you get in return is one of the most dramatic backcountry camping experiences in the Southwest: sunset views that stretch into eternity, night skies so dark the Milky Way casts a shadow, and the satisfaction of sleeping on the doorstep of Guadalupe Peak before a dawn summit bid. This campground is for experienced backpackers who understand that "primitive" means exactly that -- and who would not have it any other way.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 5 sites are reservable.
Book at Guadalupe Mountains LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. The Guadalupe Peak Campground is a primitive camping area accessible only by foot trail. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Fires:• Use or discharge of firearms is prohibited.
- Bear Safety:All wildlife is protected by federal law.
Pro Tips
Secure your wilderness permit and book early for fall weekends (October and November), when the combination of cool temps and peak foliage in McKittrick Canyon draws hikers in droves. With only five sites, getting shut out is a real possibility. Weekdays are almost always available.
You are required to carry commercial toilet bag kits -- one per person per night -- and rangers will check for them when issuing your permit. WAG Bags or Cleanwaste GO Anywhere kits work; buy them before you arrive because the Pine Springs visitor center stock is unpredictable.
Wind is not a maybe here, it is a certainty. Bring a four-season or at minimum a three-season tent rated for high winds, stake every guyline, and weight the vestibule with your pack. A freestanding dome tent without stakes will become a very expensive tumbleweed. Cache at least four liters of water per person -- there is zero water on the trail.
Photos
NPS/Bieri
NPS/Bieri
NPS/BieriGetting There
Directions
The Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground located on the Guadalupe Peak trail, 3.1 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead, and approximately one mile below the summit of the peak. There is a sign on the right-hand side of the trail directing hikers to the campground area. The trail to the campground is approximately 150 yards. It is rocky, but well defined. Elevation gain to the campground is approximately 2,200 feet from the trailhead.
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