McKittrick Canyon - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Our late April, 2015 visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park continued with a hike in McKittrick Canyon to the Grotto and Pratt Lodge. McKittrick Road is located 7.4 miles northeast of the Pine Springs Visitor Center on US 62/180. The 4.3 mile paved road to McKittrick Canyon leads to a large parking area and seasonal visitor center. While there was no ranger or volunteer on duty at the visitor center during our visit, the restrooms were open and very clean. All trails at Guadalupe Mountains National Park require hikers to sign in and out. In addition, the entrance fee receipt must be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle. Although the park service states the hike should be about 7.3 miles, our GPS recorded a distance of almost 8 miles. This is partially because we wandered up the trail a short distance from the Grotto for better views of the creek and also partially due to the fact that the park service measures from the trail kiosk while we measure from the parking area. As you will see from some of the pictures, this is rattlesnake country. The park service has covered most of the trail with smooth river rock that tends to move as you walk. Beyond Pratt Lodge, the trail is more of a dirt path than a gravel lane and is much easier walking. In addition, the water in the canyon is reserved for wildlife so you must carry enough water for your hike. Finally, there is almost no shade on most of the hike to Pratt Lodge, so use plenty of sunscreen and remember to reapply it periodically.

Topographic map with GPS hiking route

Trail elevation profile

El Capitan and Guadalupe Peak from McKittrick Road

Sand Verbena and trash

Creosote Bush blooming

McKittrick Canyon Visitor Center

Visitor Center exhibit area

Seating at the visitor center

McKittrick Canyon trailhead

Trail from the kiosk

Looking downstream at the first crossing of the wash

Another view of the wash

The outer shoreline is scoured while the inner is a gravel bar

Erosion patterns in the wash

Texas Madrone

McKittrick Peak (7064')

Desert Sunflower

Remains of a stone table along the trail

Second crossing of the wash

Butterflies on Blackfoot Daisies

Rock fins on the south side of the canyon

The first bit of shade

The third crossing of the wash requires rock hopping to stay dry

A little more shade on the path

The shade didn't last long, but the views are terrific

The trail across the wash is easy to follow

Another dry crossing of the wash

Walking conditions improve after the trail junction for Pratt Lodge

A second wet crossing

Flood debris wraps around the small trees

More shade and a fallen log

The trail meanders between a couple of boulders and a cliff face

Trail junction to head down to the Grotto or up on the mountain

The Grotto

Another view of the Grotto

Shade, stone tables and benches make for a nice picnic location

Another wet part of the wash upstream of the Grotto

A small creek flows down the wash

Marsh grasses

The Grotto from the picnic table

Erosion at work on the mountain

Agave

Trail entrance to Pratt Lodge

A rattlesnake on the trail

Trail to Pratt Lodge

Pratt Lodge

Garage

Another view of the lodge

Lodge from the garage

Large porch on the lodge

Mountain view

The rattlesnake is still on the trail and delayed our return for a while

Soaptree Yucca

Yucca bloom

Mountain Phlox

Another view of McKittrick Peak

An entrance fee of $5 per person is collected at the Pine Springs Visitor Center or at self-service kiosks at trailhead parking areas. The entrance fee is valid for seven days. Other options include an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm.