Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground

Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Pine Springs)

Guadalupe Peak, in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, is the highest point in Texas. NPS calls it “a rewarding, although very strenuous, 8.4 mile round trip hike,” climbing about 3,000 feet from Pine Springs. A small wilderness campground sits about a mile below the summit, so the climb can be split over two days.

Frommer’s describes the campground as lying “in one of the rare level spots on the mountain.” Backpacker, in 2008, called it the highest campground in Texas.

The hike

The trail starts at the Pine Springs Trailhead, about half a mile from the visitor center. According to NPS, the steepest part comes in the first 1.5 miles, where the trail switchbacks up a steep slope; the park asks hikers not to cut the switchbacks. Above that the grade eases, and the trail enters a north-facing forest of pinyon pine, southwestern white pine, and Douglas fir.

After nearly 3 miles you reach a false summit. The trail crosses a sparse stand of ponderosa pine and passes the backcountry campground, which requires a permit. Just beyond is a wooden bridge, then the final climb, with views of El Capitan, to the summit. NPS lists the summit at 8,751 feet. TrailGroove notes the metal obelisk placed there in 1958 by American Airlines to honor the centennial of the Butterfield Overland Mail.

The park’s campground table puts the site 3.1 miles from Pine Springs with a 2,200-foot climb, and lists five campsites.

Wind is the big variable. NPS warns that winds on the peak sometimes exceed 40 mph, especially in winter. Frommer’s says to secure tents firmly because “the winds can be ferocious, especially in spring,” and Backpacker recommends guylining your tent: “The winds here can whip.” In a March 2025 Big Bend Chat thread, Jonathan Sadow reported that the park had closed the Guadalupe Peak Trail for a day because of forecast winds, with a peak gust of 89 mph recorded near the visitor center. In summer, NPS warns of afternoon thunderstorms; lightning is especially dangerous on the exposed summit.

For a longer trip into the high country, see the Tejas Trail and the Bowl or the McKittrick Ridge route.

Tips

Carry all your water, at least a gallon per person per day (NPS). Caching is prohibited.
Check the wind forecast and be ready to turn back, as NPS advises.
Get off the summit early on summer afternoons when storms build.
Bring toilet bags. You’ll need to show one per person per night before a walk-up permit is issued.
Stake and guy out your tent well.

Camping

All overnight camping in the wilderness requires a Wilderness Use Permit. The park’s 2026 compendium says reservations open up to six months ahead on Recreation.gov and permits must be picked up in person at the Pine Springs Visitor Center, up to 48 hours before your trip and before 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Camp only in designated sites, with tents on the tent pad. Groups are limited to four people per site, and toilet bags are required. Open fires of any kind are prohibited; containerized fuel stoves are allowed. Keep food out of reach of wildlife and not in your tent. Pets aren’t allowed on wilderness trails, and caching food or water is prohibited.

Inside Intel: In the March 2025 Big Bend Chat wind thread, House Made of Dawn said the campsite in their photo was the easternmost pad below the peak, sheltered by a deadwood windbreak. They added that the windbreak may no longer exist, and Jonathan Sadow noted that tree cover at the campsite may have diminished.

Trail facts

Distance: 8.4 miles round trip to the summit; campground about 3.1 miles from Pine Springs (NPS)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: 5 (Guadalupe Peak wilderness campground)
Water: None; carry at least 1 gallon per person per day
Permits: Wilderness Use Permit, picked up in person at Pine Springs
Fires: Prohibited; containerized fuel stoves only
Group size: 4 per site
Dogs: Not allowed
Trailhead: Pine Springs
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Dinner a mile below the top of Texas:

The Guadalupe Peak campground is a short walk from the state's high point, and there's no water up there to waste. See the trail meals testers like that need little to cook.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.