Visitor Information

Visitor Centers

Pine Springs Visitor Center. You can pick up maps, brochures, and hiking permits here at the main visitor center, just off U.S. 62/180. A slide show and a 12-minute movie provide a quick introduction to the park, half of which is protected as a designated wilderness area. Informative exhibits depict geological history, area wildlife, and flora ranging from lowland desert to forested mountaintop. You can access several trails and a lovely picnic area and campground just outside the office. 400 Pine Canyon Dr., Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, 79847. 915/828–3251; www.nps.gov/gumo. Daily 8–4:30.

McKittrick Contact Station. Poster-size illustrations on a shaded, outdoor patio tell the geological story of the Guadalupe Mountains, believed to have been carved from an ancient sea. You can also hear the recorded memoirs of oilman Wallace Pratt, who donated his ranch and surrounding area to the federal government for preservation. Nearby trailheads access a 1-mile nature loop and lengthier hikes. 4 miles off U.S. 62/180, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, 79847. 915/828–3251; www.nps.gov/gumo. June–Aug., daily 8–6; Sept.–May, daily 8–4:30.