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Trip Planner:   USA  /  Texas  /  Guadalupe Mountains National Park  /  McKittrick Canyon

McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains National Park

4.6
#2 of 10 in Things to do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Canyon · Nature / Park
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McKittrick Canyon is a scenic canyon within the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and Eddy County, New Mexico. The steep, towering walls of McKittrick Canyon protect a rich riparian oasis in the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert.

The majority of McKittrick Canyon is part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, but is separated from the main park area and managed as a day-use only area with limited visitation hours. A large part of North McKittrick Canyon, though, is located in the Guadalupe Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. Access to McKittrick Canyon is by a 4.2-mile (6.8-km) gated side road that leads to the mouth of McKittrick Canyon from U.S. Route 62/180. Here, the National Park Service maintains a parking area, restroom facilities, and visitor center, which is staffed most of the year by volunteers.
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McKittrick Canyon reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
119 reviews
Google
4.9
TripAdvisor
  • A lovely woman ranger who was very helpful and very interested in us as Australians visiting this neck of the woods, Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful scenery and good trails. Good rest rooms at... 
    A lovely woman ranger who was very helpful and very interested in us as Australians visiting this neck of the woods, Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful scenery and good trails. Good rest rooms at...  more »
  • Really awesome hike that is very popular in the National Park. The gates do close at 5 and you need to make sure you are out before then. We started the hike around 2:30 and made it to the Pratt... 
    Really awesome hike that is very popular in the National Park. The gates do close at 5 and you need to make sure you are out before then. We started the hike around 2:30 and made it to the Pratt...  more »
Google
  • I had a great time here for a day hike. If you plan to hike to Pratt cabin, you have to stick in to see the (another 1.5 miles or so) grotto and the hunter line shack (circa 1924). It's a moderate hike and I took my time soaking in the scenery. At that pace I'd say it was about 5hrs for a 7.5 mile round trip. Cell signal was non-existent (verizon), and GPS was iffy . . It was the off-season, windy, and cold (January), but it was great! Got to see a pretty mule deer doe . .
  • Beautiful hike and scenery. The diversity of the flora during this hike is outstanding. It starts with dessert plants and ends with deciduous trees. The canyon views are spectacular. The trail is wide and family flat in the beginning.

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