Hitting your peak

A Slice of the Rockies in Texas? Exploring Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The Guadalupe Mountains represent the southernmost extent of the RockyMountains, harboring rugged canyons, lowland desert, and high elevation forest.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Devil’s Hall, a unique slot canyon, will get hikers off the beaten path.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Several peaks in the Guadalupe Mountains reach over 8,000 feet, including BushMountain. My brother and I are taking a break near the summit during a four-daybackpacking trip.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
The backcountry in the Guadalupe Mountains offers endless solitude andphotographic opportunities.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Dog Canyon, near the New Mexico state line, is a little visited area of the parkwith broad views and pinyon-juniper woodland.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
There are several primitive campsites located along the major trails throughoutthe wilderness area. (Just in case there is any confusion - yes, my brother isplaying a clarinet we packed in addition to the ramen.)
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Weather conditions can be rough. Here, a January storm covered trees inhoarfrost and the mountains in snow.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
More than 80 miles of maintained trails wind through the national park, offeringaccess to the mountains. Here, the switchbacks of a trail are visible in theforeground and salt flats in the background.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Animals abound, like this snake. It may look like a rattler, but is actually aharmless bull snake. The backcountry is also home to mountain lions, blackbears, and a plethora of birds.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz

It was day three of an unplanned four-day experiment. How long would five pounds of cooked, unrefrigerated ramen noodles remain palatable in the west Texas summer weather?

The result? A three-pound slimy mass that did not smell very good, much less appear edible. I dumped the goo in the vicinity of Lost Peak, the ninth highest summit in Texas.

Although littering is frowned upon in a national park, I reasoned it was not really littering — since the bears were going to get it. I guess feeding wildlife is also frowned upon, but ramen is kind of natural, right?

I quickly turned away, my stomach growling, but we had several more miles to go, and the packs were not getting any lighter.

Why carry cooked noodles stuffed into a plastic bag for rations on a backpacking trip? Are we idiots? Nah. I would say we were hardcore.

Fueling for 40 (miles)

My brother and I had arrived in Guadalupe Mountains National Park two days before, in hopes of traversing the range and back on a 40-mile backpacking trip.

Checking on conditions, we found that, due to extreme drought and heat, any open fires had been banned in the backcountry. Which meant no roasting marshmallows, no stoves, and no cigarettes. I was even too worried to turn on my flashlight.

Not easily discouraged, we huddled around our food supply. Since the park’s remote location is not conducive to a quick run to the store, we spent two hours cooking 14 packages of ramen, methodically draining the water and dumping the finished product into a bag, all in the safety of the developed campground.

After zippering away the little flavor packets, we deemed ourselves prepared for the trip. Additional fare included oatmeal, powdered milk, and granola bars.

These measly rations turned out to provide enough energy to power us up, over, and down the mountains. Twice.

Far, far from home

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park sits in a remote corner of the state, abutting the New Mexico border, with the closest major city being El Paso. Its little visited 86,000 acres protect pristine desert, scorching salt flats, rugged peaks and lush canyons.

Just getting there is half a road trip. From Houston, it is a straight shot west for about 10 soporific hours. But you must take care not to fall asleep passing through San Antonio — the highways are just weird there.

The tiny, dusty town of Van Horn marks the turn north onto Highway 54, and the last chance for restaurants and an actual bed. I find Van Horn’s aesthetic value and interest factor to be zero.

After another hour of driving, the dramatic prow of El Capitan — a cliff face rising to more than 8,000 feet — becomes visible.

For fans of geology, these mountains were formed as a reef beneath an ancient inland sea, before uplifting formed jagged summits flanked by vertical cliffs. The exposed peaks and escarpments are now recognized as some of the most well-preserved fossil reefs in the world.

Gaming the Guadalupe

The best way to truly appreciate the mountains is to camp and hike for a couple of days. The park has a little more than a mile of paved road, but more than 80 miles of maintained trails.

My brother and I backpacked for four days into the heart of the wilderness area. The most direct route into the high country follows Pine Spring Canyon on the Tejas Trail. With heavy packs, we slogged uphill for three miles before reaching the cool woodlands of the Bowl.

Above 6,000 feet, the desert and grassland give way to forest of ponderosa pine, gambel oak, and Douglas-fir - survivors from an epoch when the area experienced a cooler climate. Here, flora and fauna more typical of the Rocky Mountains further north can be found.

After crossing Bush Mountain, the second highest peak in Texas, we camped for the night amidst old growth of pine and oak.

Not a soul as far as the eye can see

The next day, we descended to Dog Canyon into juniper woodland. Close to the New Mexico border, Dog Canyon has a ranger station and developed campground where we were able to refill our dwindling water supply, since no water is available in the higher parts of the park.

Over the last two days of the trip, we followed another trail back across the mountains. We finished the trek coming down the arduous Bear Canyon, which shaved a couple of years off my knees.

We didn’t see a single person on the trails during the entire four days.

Sometimes, ramen doesn't cut it

In addition to backpacking, there are plenty of day hikes in the park. Peak-skill baggers can tackle the nine and a half miles round-trip up Guadalupe Peak, which, at 8,749 feet, is the highest point in Texas.

One sun bleached spring day, I scrambled to its rocky summit, after four hours of stoic back and forth along endless switchbacks. I settled, exhausted, on the first flat-ish rock I gazed at, the desert and salt flats nearly 5,000 feet below.

Two hikers popped onto the summit and exclaimed in slightly higher than conversational tone of how surprised they were that it only took one hour to reach the top.

Maybe I did need better nutrition.

Are we still in Texas, Toto?

A short drive north from the main visitor center at Pine Springs, McKittrick Canyon offers a welcome reprieve from the desert. Here, a year-round stream, flowing clear and cool across smooth slabs of gray rock, supports rich woodlands of oak and aspen.

The trail following the canyon eventually becomes nearly vertical. However, the first few miles are pretty flat, and lead past a historic lodge and fern-lined grottoes.

A day hike to Devil’s Hall, a near-perfect rectangular box canyon no more then 20 feet wide, will get you off the beaten track. The path starts at the main trail head at Pine Spring Canyon, but soon turns into a bit of a scramble down a dry creek bed, eventually ending near a formation called the Devil's Staircase.

Hitting this spot, you may be scratching your head profusely, asking yourself, "Is this really Texas?"

Many areas in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park make it hard to believe that you're still in Texas. But then again, it's pretty neat to not have to cheat on your state to have a small dose of those Rocky Mountains.

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where to travel right now

A new Hill Country winery opening tops Texas travel ideas for October

Photo courtesy of Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa

Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa is only 52 miles from Austin.

Houston travelers with a soft spot for the arts — and a thirst for some Texas wine — will have an easy time planning a weekend getaway with all of the music festivals, art fairs, and other cultural showcases happening around Texas this month.

From the grand debut of an international museum exhibition in San Antonio to Central Texas music festivals, travelers have plenty of ways to engage in artistic experiences all over the state. We've also included some news about a new winery opening in Fredericksburg, and an affordable vacation package at a Hill Country winery resort.

Houstonians can also stay close to home and check out two unique local art fairs or mosey over to Margaritaville for a relaxing weekend at a discount.

This is everything you need to know to plan a quick getaway in October.

Houston
Two creative festivals will take over Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center in October, drawing in art purveyors, collectors, and travelers on the prowl for their next statement piece. Prestigious contemporary art fair Untitled Art will return for its second annual show from October 2-4, showcasing several galleries from both local and Texas-based artists. Next is the Affordable Art Fair running from October 15-18, which will feature works from 350 artists from across the globe, including 17 Houston galleries. Single-day admission for Untitled Art starts at $40, and general admission tickets to the Affordable Art Fair is $20 per person.

Just up the road, Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe is giving weary travelers a discount to make the most of an extended lakeside getaway. Guests can receive 20 percent off the best available rate and get a $50 daily resort credit when they book stays from October 9-12 using the promo code "FALL2026". The Fall Break Weekend will be packed with events, such as a wine tasting with Bernhardt Winery, a comedy showcase, a poolside gameday watch party, and much more.

A major college town one-and-a-half hours from Houston will transform into a lively stage for emerging and established songwriters from October 9-10. The Bryan, Texas Songwriter Festival in Historic Downtown Bryan will have a free Main Stage open to the public, but the a VIP add-on wristband ($246) gives exclusive access to intimate performances, experiences, and additional perks at various venues. The artist lineup includes Radney Foster, Blue Water Highway, Beat Root Revival, Macie Hanna, and more.

Austin
October is a busy month for Austin residents and visitors with back-to-back weekends of Austin City Limits Music Festival, Hot Luck Festival, and the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix — but there's plenty to do outside the city limits if you're avoiding the frenetic festival vibes.

One calming choice is the 2026 Autumn Art Stroll in the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District on October 16, where visitors can fill out a stroll passport at participating locations while enjoying live music, artist demonstrations, tours, and art shopping from 4-8 pm. The event is free to the public.

The Hill Country
Longtime family-owned winery Formando Vineyards is celebrating the grand opening of its new tasting room at 11835 N. State Highway 16 in Fredericksburg on October 1. The new taproom will serve wine by the glass, light bites, and three guided tasting experiences. All wines made under the Formando brand are made with fruit sourced from Hill Country growers and the family's own estate in Gillespie County.

Carter Creek Winery Resort in Johnson City has a new October-exclusive overnight package that makes planning a weekend getaway much easier and tastier. The Texas Wine, Bourbon & Beer Package is available Tuesdays through Saturdays and includes a one-night stay at the resort, plus a wine tasting for two, a beer tasting experience, and a whiskey flight at Garrison Brothers Distillery. Rates for the package start at $169 and can be booked online, with additional nights available by calling 877-935-7101.

Wine enthusiasts and Americana music lovers have a new reason to gather in the cozy Hill Country town of Gruene this fall: The Gruene Music & Wine Fest from October 8-11. The four-day festival will have wine and beer tastings, an auction, a catered dinner, live music, and much more. The festival also serves as a fundraising event for United Way of Comal and Guadalupe Counties. Event and concert tickets for October 9 are sold out, but tickets are still available for two other Gruene Hall concerts. Admission is free for the kickoff party (October 8) and the Tastings & Tunes event (October 10), but attendees can pre-purchase tasting tickets online. General admission for the Sunday All-Star Playlist is $97 per person.

Photo courtesy of Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa

Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa is only 52 miles from Austin.

San Antonio
The San Antonio Museum of Art will debut an extraordinary and impressive collection of cultural artifacts predating the Roman Empire on October 31. The new international exhibit, The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy, will feature 130 works from more than 20 museums from around the world, including artifacts on loan from the Vatican Museums, the British Museum, and the Louvre. SAMA is one of only two U.S. museums where the exhibition will be shown, making it a can't-miss exclusive treasure for Texas travelers to explore for themselves. The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy will be on view through March 14, 2027, and the exhibit is included with regular museum admission ($24 per person with discounts for seniors, military, and students).

Dallas-Fort Worth
The 35th annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering & Western Swing Festival will return to the Fort Worth Stockyards for an authentic Western weekend from October 23-25. The festival honors cowboy culture, ranching heritage, and "rich traditions of the Western world" with a chuck wagon competition, ranch rodeos, live music, poetry readings, a cookoff, swing dancing, and more. Ticket prices start at $67.27 including fees before taxes, and Western Swing tickets must be purchased separately.

ICYMI: The Transport Security Administration has launched a new program, called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allowing members to pass through security and enter the gates at 13 U.S. airports (including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport) without having to purchase a plane ticket. The initiative is intended to make it easier for TSA PreCheck members to visit a gate for welcomes and send-offs, or visit with friends during a layover, according to TSA's website.

vacation texas travel music festival art festival art fair margaritaville resort hill country gruene museums winery festivals