2 Best Sights in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

A desert creek flows through this canyon, considered one of the wondrous sights in Texas, lined with walnut, maple, and other trees that explode into brilliant hues each autumn. Call the visitor center to chart the progress of the colorful fall foliage; the spectacular changing of the leaves often extends into November, depending on the weather. You're likely to spot mule deer heading for the water here. The canyon is ground zero for several hiking trails, including Pratt Cabin (two to three hours) and the Grotto (four hours).

In the mid-1800s passengers en route from St. Louis to California on the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route stopped here for rest and refreshment. At more than a mile in elevation, the station was the highest on the journey, but it operated for only about a year. The ruins provide a peek into the past: the bare remains of a few buildings with rock walls (but no roofs) layered on the desert floor. Do not touch. You can drive here from U.S. 62/180, but it's more interesting to stroll over via the paved ¾-mile round-trip natural trail from the visitor center.