Campground · Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Eight remote tent sites on the ridge, reached by a steep backpack.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Guadalupe Mountains Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Guadalupe Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
McKittrick Ridge Wilderness Campground is a primitive backcountry campground with eight walk-in, tent-only pads in tree cover near the ridge above McKittrick Canyon. Choose it for a proper overnight hike, not a casual stop: the remote setting is the draw, and the climb is a big part of the trip. A wilderness-use permit is required, and campers must stay on the designated pads.
From McKittrick Canyon Trailhead, the route is 7.6 miles one way with more than 2,700 feet of elevation gain, including a very steep climb. The Notch is about halfway up and opens to views down the canyon in both directions; false summits follow before the ridge camp. NPS says starting from Dog Canyon is a less strenuous way to reach the ridge, so compare approaches before choosing your overnight route.
There’s no potable water or toilet at camp. Carry all your water and bring the required landfill-safe toilet bags, at least one per person per night. Fires are prohibited, so cooking means a containerized-fuel stove; there’s no camp store.
Wildlife
33 sightingsAoudadMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
163 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
11 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
34 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
39 sightingsDiamondback RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
43 sightingsBlack-tailed RattlesnakeMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Guadalupe Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateMarcus Overlook5.2 mi · 4 hr · 2 mi awayA rocky high-country hike to broad southern and western views.
ModerateLost Peak Saddle6.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 2 mi awayWest and south views, with no trail to Lost Peak's summit.
ChallengingMcKittrick Ridge from Dog Canyon14.8 mi · 10 hr · 2 mi awayA 14.8-mile out-and-back to open views from McKittrick Ridge.ChallengingLost Peak–Marcus Loop13.4 mi · 7.5 hr · 2 mi awayA big northern loop, where Lost Peak gives way to grassland.
ChallengingBush Mountain–Blue Ridge–Marcus Loop16.4 mi · 11 hr · 2 mi awayA full-day high-country loop with a route-finding sting.
EasyIndian Meadow Nature Trail0.8 mi · 38 min · 2.1 mi awayA short nature loop through Dog Canyon's varied habitats.
ChallengingManzanita Ridge Route1.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.7 mi awayA faint ridge connector from Tejas to Bush Mountain.
ModerateThe Grotto and Hunter Line Shack7 mi · 4 hr · 3.3 mi awayA seven-mile canyon walk to shaded stone seats and ranch history.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayThe NotchA tough hike reaches the ridge's window into South McKittrick Canyon.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayHunter Line ShackA stone ranching shack at the end of a 7-mile round trip.Sight · 1.2 mi awayThe GrottoA shady cave-like picnic stop halfway up McKittrick Canyon.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayPratt CabinA stone cabin built with limestone hauled by pickup and horse-drawn sled.
Campground · 2 mi awayDog Canyon CampgroundA quiet northern base for hikes into the park's high country.
Visitor center · 2.1 mi awayDog Canyon Ranger StationA practical stop in the park’s remote northern district.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayWilderness Ridge Wilderness CampgroundA five-pad backcountry camp at the end of a 2,000-foot climb.
Sight · 2.8 mi awayLost PeakA rocky summit with broad western views and an unmarked final approach.Parkwolf’s Guadalupe Mountains ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
