McKittrick Canyon, Texas, United States

5Jeremiah Z 5:00 PM Dec 26, 2021

Most Beautiful Hike in TX
We hiked the McKittrick Canyon Trail all the way to the Notch (10 mi. RT) midweek in early November. We were the first vehicle in the parking lot just after sunrise, and did not see another person until our return back down from the Notch. We did pass about 30-35 people on our return, but overall we were surprised the hike wasn't busier compared to what we had been warned. Back at the trailhead, the lot was still only about half full just after lunchtime. As noted, the hike is really family friendly and very easy all the way past Pratt Cabin to the Grotto and Hunter Line Shack. If you wanted to just hike to the Grotto and Hunter Line Shack, it would only be about 7 mi. RT, and I think most families could do this. Beyond the Grotto, the hike gets much steeper to the Notch, though we didn't think the elevation gain was what made this section hard, it was the overgrown desert shrubs and vegetation which at times gave us cuts on our arms and legs. But the views from the Notch are incredible, and worth the pain to get there. Make sure to go past the Notch another 300 yards or so for even more sweeping views. We were a bit early this year to see full fall colors, but there definitely were some, especially between Pratt Cabin and the Grotto. All in all, this is the one hike you don't want to miss if you're visiting Guadalupe Mountains NP (sorry Guadalupe Peak!).

5TwinMom1995 5:00 PM Apr 4, 2020

Lovely canyon
The McKittrick Canyon Trail starts at the McKittrick Canyon Contact Station where there are restrooms and a water cooler. This is a very pretty trail in Guadalupe NP that is surprisingly lush considering that it’s located in a desert climate. We hiked to Pratt Cabin with is 2.4 miles and stopped for a snack. The trail to Pratt’s has a gradual incline and is easy to navigate. We continued to The Grotto, another 1.0 mile where there are picnic tables. That portion of the trail was also a gradual incline. Based on the recommendation from another hiker we started toward the Notch. At this point in the trail the incline becomes much steeper increasing more than 1,000 feet in about a mile and also becomes much rockier. We realized that we would not be able to get to the Notch due to time constraints and turned back. The views all along the trail were beautiful, not to be missed. On the way back to the Contact Station we encountered a park volunteer who shared stories of the area with us. He also told us that the gates at the Contact Station are closed/locked and if you miss the deadline that’s a problem. Be sure to bring lots of water, a snack (or two), wear decent shoes and use sunscreen. The trail is well marked and easy to follow.