Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Salt Flat

Another beautiful national Park. The national parks never disappoint. This one has a small gift shop located in the visitor center. You do have to wait to get into the visitor center because it is so small they limit the number of visitors. You pay at the visitor center for entering the park. I was a little confused by it because it does seem that you could hike without pain. If you just stop at the trails along the way. But I had no problem paying as it does support my national parks and I do love very much. The trails that I walked were very exposed, and even though the temperatures were not high that day the UV index was so I suggest taking sunscreen. The first trail, located behind the visitor center, was closed for restoration. It was not clear until we got back into the part of the path that was blocked off. It’s still worth checking out. Trails don’t seem to be clearly marked. Make sure you take a map.

This is a fantastic park, and I had a great time hiking to the top of Guadalupe Peak and around some of the smaller trails from the visitor center. Guadalupe peak is a strenuous hike and take at least the recommended amount of water, as well as some food and all the equipment necessary to pack out your waste, as there are no toilets or trash cans on the trail. Overall a great experience and it definitely earns its status as a national park!