Getting out there: Guadalupe Mountains seeks to improve park access with online reservations

Visiting the scenic desert landscapes and mountain peaks of Guadalupe Mountains National Park could become easier as the National Park Service offered online reservations for some of the most popular campsites at the park.

Group campsites at Pine Springs and Dog Canyon can be reserved on Recreation.gov starting on Tuesday, allowing visitors to reserve camping six months in advance.

Later this year and next year, more sites will be moved to online reservations including back-country camping.

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There are two group sites that can be reserved at Pine Springs, including one that is accessible to the disabled as prescribed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a third at Dog Canyon.

Reserved sites must have a minimum of 10 people and maximum of 20 campers, with no more than five tents accommodated.

Groups with more than 20 visitors must obtain a special use permit at the park.

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Campsite fees are $60 per night, per group, while senior passes no longer apply. A separate entrance fees of $10 per adult is also required.

Children aged 15 and under are free admission.

Program Manager Elizabeth Jackson said the park service is improve access to camping, as it increased in popularity during the COVID-19 health crisis.

“We had a lot of requests over the years to put the reservations online to make it more accessible and user friendly,” she said. “By putting group campsites online, it allows people to plan better for their vacation. We want people to get our more and recreate. This is one more step.”

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As the pandemic took hold last year, Jackson said more people sought outdoor recreation options where they could limit exposure to large groups of people and avoid enclosed areas where the virus could spread.

“More people are seeking outdoor spaces where they are not around a lot of people,” she said. “That’s good. That’s healthy.”

Ready like a ranger

The Nation Park Service offered multiple tips to campers and visitors to national parks to ensure their trips are successful and enjoyable.

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Jackson said before visiting, campers should make sure they have the right gear and are prepared to spend virtually the entire visit outdoors, and that guests take everything they bring into the park – including trash – back out when they leave.

“We’re hoping people will plan begin to plan better for their trips,” she said. “Make sure you’re planning for the outdoors. We advocate leave no trace principles. We hope you will respect that.”

Here are the key pieces of guidance offered by the National Park Service through its “Plan like a park ranger” campaign.

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Have a plan but be flexible.

Visitors can go to NPS.gov to seek out trails and campsites at the park they intend to visit. But weather and conditions at the park can change quickly, meaning access could be restricted by the time they get there. The Park Service advised guests to have a backup plan incase their initial itinerary is impacted.

Be patient

National parks throughout the U.S. are already busier than normal this year, so visitors should expect to leave extra time to move throughout the parks and consider making reservations ahead of time.

Service may be constrained due to a higher volume of visitors and limited staffing brought on by the pandemic. Non-vaccinated guests are also required to wear masks.

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Off the beaten path

The Park Service has more than 400 national parks throughout the country, and it advised those interested in visiting to consider some of the less-traveled parks for their vacation. This can help avoid large crowds and lines, but still have a unique experience in nature.

Be safe; avoid interacting with wildlife

National parks are home to a variety of animals of different sizes and danger levels. The Park Service said people keep a safe distance from wild animals and never feed them. When taking pictures, the Park Service asked visitors to “use your zoom and give them room.”

Also, with bigger crowds, those looking for unobstructed photos of the landscapes may need to be patient to get the shot and live to show it off.

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What do to when you get there

The Guadalupes have more than 80 miles of hiking trails in a variety of difficulty levels, from easy day hikes to the highest peak in Texas.

Easy trails like the Smith Springs Trail Loop at Frijole Ranch allow less experienced hikers to enjoy a 1- to 3-hour trek past an historic home and up a rare stream in the arid region.

The Permian Reef Trail along with north side of McKittrick Canyon – which holds multiple other trails – provides a scenic view of the park’s mountain vistas but could be more challenging at about 4 to 6 hours – one of the least-trafficked trails in the park.

Those looking day-long adventure can traverse the Guadalupe Peak trail which summits at the highest point in Texas.

A roundtrip was estimated at up 10 hours long, with a 3,000-foot elevation gain, brining hikers 8,751 feet above sea level, with wide views from the top and numerous ecosystems witnessed along the way.

Visitors can also camp out for a unique stargazing experience at night in the park far from the lights of nearby cities. 

By day, the park is a popular locale for bird watching and viewing wildlife. 

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-618-7631, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.