The best walks and hikes in Hudspeth County

Must do if the weather is right. Mid fall to early spring is the best time. Can take as little as 5 hours if you are reasonably fit (like 9 minute mile).

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site is a unique desert refuge known for its ancient rock art, natural water basins, and world-class bouldering. There are guided and self-guided areas where you can see pictographs left by early inhabitants, some dating back thousands of years. The park also offers hiking, camping, and birdwatching, but access is limited to protect its fragile ecosystem.

Iconic Statepark

The Foothills Trail connects the Pine Springs Area with the Frijole Ranch and can be easily connected with the Frijole Trail to make a pleasant loop along the eastern escarpment of the Guadalupe mountains. From this relatively easy section of trail, you get excellent views up Bear Canyon and toward El Capitan and Guadalupe Peak. You also frequently see wild animals like deer along the trail as well as wildflowers in the spring.

The ruins of historic Pinery Station is on the National Register of Historic Places and is just a short walk from the main Pine Springs Visitor Center on an easy, wheelchair-accessible, paved path. The station was once part of the Butterfield Overland Mail route, which ran biweekly from St. Louis to San Francisco in the mid-1800s. The stagecoach drivers that worked the mail route traveled an astonishing average of 120 miles a day. The Pinery, which sits at 5,534 feet, was both the highest point and most isolated station on the route. The rock structure is the remains of a wall that once encircled the somewhat fortress-like station consisting of a wagon repair shop, a blacksmith shop, and three mud-roofed rooms with limestone walls for drivers and passengers to rest. The Butterfield Mail Coach only used the Pinery 11 months before switching to a new route, but other people from outlaws to soldiers continued to use station for decades after. This is a fascinating part of Texan history with stunning views; its a must-see if in the Pine Springs Area.

The junction of the El Capitan and the Salt Basin Overlook Trails offers great views from the base of El Capitan. El Capitan is the southern-most point of the Guadalupe Mountains and one of the more iconic features in the park. Not to be confused with the El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California, this El Capitan stands at 8,085 feet above sea level and is the eighth highest peak in Texas. El Capitan also marks the southern-most point of the Guadalupe Mountains and is exceptionally beautiful at sunrise as the sheer cliff faces glow pink and orange. From this point you can either continue on the El Capitan Trail toward the Williams Ranch or veer off on the Salt Basin Overlook Loop, which will take you to the Salt Basin Overlook.

The remote Bush Mountain is deep in the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness and can only be accessed by hiking or horse-packing. Standing at 8,631 feet, Bush Mountain is the second highest peak in Texas. Many who hike Bush Mountain choose to make it an overnight trip; there is a wilderness campground and radio tower below the southeast side of the summit. Regardless of whether you make it a day hike or part of a backpacking trip, Bush Mountain is a great summit with lovely views of the mountains and desert surrounded by scrubby pine trees and grasses.

The Bear Canyon Trail is a challenging trail that is one of the steepest in the park, gaining 2,000 feet in less than two miles. Despite its challenges, it is a fantastic trail and one of the best and fastest ways to get up to Hunter Peak and the Bowl. Due to its steepness, the park recommends going up, not down it. Another thing to keep in mind as you plan your hike is that Bear Canyon Trail is east facing and receives full sun by mid-day.