. If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our. Nice and easy hike surrounded by trees. Maybe someday spring-fed Texas streams could once again support our native trout and provide it safe haven for the future. However, the trout were not washed out. All trailhead areas have accessible parking available. As I met the participants, including personnel from TPWDs San Angelo, Texas, fisheries office, I began to be aware that none of us had been to McKittrick Canyon with the exception of Dr. Gary Garrett. David Courtney, a.k.a. Another part that was cool, both figuratively and temperature wise, was hiking in the shadows of the canyon. This needs to be renamed Kodachrome Canyon! Back at the trailhead, the lot was still only about half full just after lunchtime. NPS Photo Traveling clockwise, this fascinating, short trail passes an intermittent seep that lies hidden in junipers, then wanders up a southwest slope along an arroyo. It's quite an interesting mental exercise to consider the geological and biological factors in play. . Located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, McKittrick Canyon boasts foliage colors that contrast dramatically in the arid Chihuahuan desert. If you missed the initial premise of this expedition, it was a joint effort pooling the skills of various organizations that included; Trout Unlimited (TU), Texas Parks And Wildlife, National Parks Service, New Mexico Parks and the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (GRTU). that is cool. McKittrick Creek, Guadalupe Mountains. Im not saying Texas is big, but . Hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Mountain Standard . detour, the Grotto. Any Texas or southwestern U.S. road trip wouldnt be complete without experiencing, In fact, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is part of the same mountain chain that houses the other worldly depths of Carlsbad Caverns! Specifically, McKittrick Creek, which runs through the Guadalupe Mountains (no relation to the Guadalupe River), near the TexasNew Mexico border. Introduced Rainbow Trout in particular have proven very troublesome for different native Cutthroat species all over the country, as their high degree of genetic similarity allows them to interbreed with Cutthroats. The native range of the Rio Grande Cutthroat suspiciously cuts off right at the Texas border. Trailside exhibits describe common plants, and reference wildland fire. The first mile or so of the McKittrick Canyon Trail wind through the open and shrubby environment of the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert, through empty washes dotted with minimal, characteristically desert, vegetation. Of all the parks we visited, Guadalupe was rank first by Alltrails. The steep, towering walls of McKittrick Canyon protect a rich riparian oasis in the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert . Somehow, though manmade, this cabin blends seamlessly into its environment, and is breathtaking in its humbleness. The Visitor Center is open daily except Christmas Day. There are no restrooms or running water here. Its nice, but there are a bunch of hikes that we liked a lot more. Clouser Fly for Texas Saltwater fly fishing, Fly line mats for keeping fly line on boat decks keeping fly line on kayaks and drift boats. Hike The McKittrick Canyon Trails. Carp Diem! Low tides again this morning at South Padre Island, South Padre Island sunrise at the Jetties today. Voicemail messages are responded to within five business days. Read our post Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. The group convened at Van Horn, Texas, the closest town to our destination on the Texas side of the GMNP. It takes about 2 to 3 minutes to get to the Grotto. McKittrick Canyon is a spectacular canyon jewel hidden and protected from the outside world between a narrow outer wall (Frijole Ridge) and the main part of the Guadalupe Mountain Range of West Texas. We met the National Park Services Fred Armstrong and Jeremy Markuson at the southern headquarters and were given their orientation on the history of the rainbow trout in the canyon and scientists exchanged their ideas on information they have and would like to have on the canyon creek. The deep, narrow canyon is composed of gneiss and schist, which appears black when in shadow. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. For one, McKittrick Creek would have been fair game for fishing, as Guadalupe Mountains National Park wasnt established until 1972 (although the Texanist has no idea if there were trout present before those early stockings). Hes always availablehere. Whether you stop at the cabin or at the grotto, it's all beautiful. I was flying heavy with about 35 pounds of camera gear in my Lowe Pro backpack, heaviest load of everyone, and immediately aware that this wasnt going to be a walk in the park. 6 miles round trip). One walk through Mckittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and you to will be convinced. There are picnic tables here. On the saltwater front, redfish and speckled trout rule, along with, of course, your larger varieties of game fish. The final 0.25 miles up to the Notch is the most difficult. The elevation gain to the Grotto is minimal, at just around 300 feet elevation gain. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. The McKittrick Canyon trailhead is a 10-mile drive north from the park's Pine Springs headquarters. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. In fact, hiking on towards the McKittrick Ridge campground is the steepest portion of not only the entire trail, but the steepest incline in the entire park! The entrance gate on U.S.Highway 62/180 is locked each evening. We started off at the bottom all buttoned up in our winter coats, shivering in the cold. Wallace Pratt donated 5,632 acres of his beloved canyon to the National Park Service in 1957 opening up the way for the creation of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. From training resources, to select active travel destinations, I can teach you how to have a different kind of vacation, an active travel vacation! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Select Model COLOR SELECTION A WIDE PRICE RANGE: The original "Rounder" at $129. But what we may lack in trout, we make up in the diversity of our catchable piscifauna, including gargantuan bass, the freshwater fish for which Texas is probably best known. For mountain hiking that traverses desert floors to forested peaks, look no further than, The McKittrick Canyon Trail is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Relatively easy but lots of rocks can be hard on the soles. . The advantage of the McKittrick Canyon Trail is that its great for all ages and ability levels. The temperatures changed a lot during the hike, so I was glad that I had layered clothing and had taken water and a snack. Most people begin their journey at the McKittrick Canyon Trailhead. Asterisk number two: McKittrick Creek is situated inside the borders of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where fishing is prohibited. Dogs are not allowed on trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. listed S. spilurus as having a range that included Texas. Parking My friend and I made the 5th ford across the creek when we decided to turn around, probably less than a 1/2 mile from the cabin. Built in 1928 by Jesse Hunter as a hunting retreat, this establishment is but a second amazing testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those who made Guadalupe Mountains their early homes. For mountain hiking that traverses desert floors to forested peaks, look no further than the highest point in Texas at Guadalupe Peak! The trail to Pratts has a gradual incline and is easy to navigate. Today the only member of the family Salmonidae (trout, salmon and their relatives) that occurs in Texas is the non-native Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. If you are looking for a new kind of vacation, active travel is your answer! The Grotto marks 3.4 roundtrip miles along the McKittrick Canyon Trail, but I would highly recommend tacking on another minute to take the spur trail just past the Grotto to the third and final landmark on this day hike, the Hunter Line Cabin. CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK: Carlsbad Caverns sits right beside Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Good hiking boots are a must. THE BUCKET LIST Follow the McKittrick Canyon Trail as it drops down into the canyon, crisscrossing a wash until it reaches a stream gurgling over limestone boulders. Mick, that is outstanding. The trail to the Grotto leads off to the left and heads downhill on a very rocky trail. You can get by with a good pair of walking shoes or running shoes for this hike if you only plan to go to Pratt Cabin or the Grotto. The catalyst for the new research is from a paper by Gary Garrett and Gary Matlock. Ragland Studio and Litho Printing Co., Georgia) noted the only possible locality for native trout in Texas was in the Davis Mountains (Limpia Creek) and that "oldtimers" had stated that trout were present in that location, but the reports were never verified. I had no cellular service on this trail. Guide to Planning a Trip to China: The Great Wall Marathon Runcation. The trail was very good and well marked. For aquatic organisms in particular, what is now the Chihuahuan Desert was a route for dispersal during this time. There will be a new video segment out soon, and it will go over the importance of keeping a fly fishing calendar, or diary, to help we who are of lesser memory and greater activity; to keep track of your fly fishing adventures as a reference of what can happen or no longer happens (in [], Texas Clay Fest Gruene Texas This Weekend. But your reward is better views, an overall more interesting hiking trail, and just a fraction of the number of people that the McKittrick Canyon Trail. Email subscriber privacy policy We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. We realized that we would not be able to get to the Notch due to time constraints and turned back. Considered by some to be the most beautiful fish in the world, it embodies everything that makes fly fishing great. While I hiked the McKittrick Canyon Trail, Tim hiked the Permian Reef Trail. Thousands of visitors come to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to visit McKittrick Canyon each year, especially during the latter part of October or early November for the sensational fall colors. the Texanist, is a staff writer. The Permian Reef Trail heads off to the right and the McKittrick Nature Trail heads off to the left. As the gene pool of the fish population continues to dilute, all offspring eventually resemble Rainbows altogether, and the native fish population fades away. Only service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities are allowed in the park and on trails. This information, though, comes with an asterisk. This is a popular trail for camping, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The. The walk is flat and easy. This one clocks in at 14-thousand views, and will actually get a follow-up this spring to let watchers know how all the tuning on the skiff turned out! Distance: 8 miles roundtrip to Mckittrick Canyon; 14.8 miles to McKittrick Ridge Elevation change: 1,500 feet Hiking time: 5-8 hours Highlights: The sweeping hills and valleys of Dog Canyon and the rugged beauty of McKittrick Canyon. Abundant water was a part of this and one of the things that made this hike so interesting. So what does this mean? Saw many families with young children enjoying the shallow stream crossings. Some of you know my writing from here OR publications like Drake Magazine, Lone Star Outdoor News and others. Yes, we liked this one too (even more than the McKittrick Canyon Trail). See what else this Mountain Range is Home to at neighboring Carlsbad Caverns National Park! Devils Hall, which is in Pine Springs, is shorter and more fun than the McKittrick Canyon Trail, and it leads to a cool looking slot canyon. ), Now, had you moved to Texas, say, 150 years ago, the situation would have been different. McKittrick Canyon 119 Reviews #2 of 15 things to do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Nature & Parks, Canyons Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX Save Stephen S Richardson, Texas 28 27 Only Hiked to Pratt Lodge Review of McKittrick Canyon Reviewed June 14, 2016 There will be a few more places where you cross the wash. This is the steepest, narrowest, and rockiest part of the trail. Any Texas or southwestern U.S. road trip wouldnt be complete without experiencing all the outdoor adventures in Guadalupe Mountains National Park! The rumors of this supposed ripe, lush, canyon oasis do not appear to exist yet. Location of the McKittrick Canyon Trail . Im looking forward to learning much about the incredible state of Texas! Loved it, cant wait to return next fall. The next landmark along this portion of the McKittrick Canyon day hike is the aptly named Grotto. Wow! If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. The Guadalupe Mountains hold what some call the most beautiful spot in Texas. Rusty speaking goes with the rest of the rust. Three trails start right at this point. Beautiful views, colors and interest along the way. (The Texanist prefers to do his swimming in water with a temperature just above the 70-degree mark, cool but not too cold. A: Welcome to Texas, Mr. Cleland. Beyond the Grotto, the trail gets rocky and rapidly climbs higher to the Notch, but the reward is a great view of McKittrick Canyon. This 3,000 ft. deep canyon hides a riparian oasis below its big walls supporting some wildlife found in no other place on earth. account_circle Trail very pretty and peaceful. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. As we entered the park Saturday about 10:30 a.m., we were advised by a ranger that the park was almost full and we might not have a place to park. As you watch dragonflies near the water, you may be surprised to know that some are found only here and nowhere else. You also have the option to continue on to the Hunter Line Shack and it takes about 4 to 5 minutes to walk here from the Grotto. All this brain power was focused on the potential of supplanting a non-native population of rainbow trout with nearby Rio Grande cutthroat trout.