Guadalupe Mountains National Park Camping – Pine Springs, Dog Canyon & Backcountry

There are 2 frontcountry campgrounds and 10 backcountry campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Pine Springs Campground

A location for desert camping at the base of Gauadalupe Mountain near Pine Springs Visitor Center. There are twenty (20) campsites for tent camping and 19 sites in a paved parking lot for RV camping. There are two group camping sites available at Pine Springs for a fee of $3 per person.Bring everything you need with you, as the nearest gas stations are 35-65 miles away and there is no campstore or food available in the park. Restrooms have sinks and flush toilets. There is potable water but there are no showers. The elevation is around 5700 feet.

Dog Canyon Campground

There are nine tent sites and four RV sites (must be no longer than 23 feet). Restrooms have sinks and flush toilets but no showers. Dog Canyon is at a higher elevation than Pine Springs and protected by steep cliff walls, so it is cooler in the summer and sheltered from the strong windows in the winter and spring. Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted. The fee is $8 per night per site and payment is made at the self-registration board. There is one group campsite available by reservation up to 60 days in advance available fore between 10 and 20 people. There are also three hiking trails in the area – Indian Meadow Nature Trail, Bush Mountain Trail and Tejas Trail.

Backcountry Campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains:

Guadalupe Peak Campground – Five sites along the Guadalupe Peak trail located 3.1 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead and 1 mile below the Peak. The campground has high winds and minimal protection, so be prepared.

Pine Top Campground – 8 campsites at the top of the ridge close to the Bowl. It offers excellent views of the nearby peaks. It has an elevation gain of 2300 feet in the 4.2 miles to reach it from Pine Springs.

Tejas Campground – These five sites are located in a forested section. It is 5.5 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead and 6.2 miles from Dog Canyon.

Bush Mountain Campground – 5 sites located 6.2 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead. It is a popular stop because of the exceptional views and sunsets.

Mescalero Campground – Eight campsites on Tejas Trail that makes an excellent base camp for exploration. It is 6.2 miles from Pine Springs trailhead and 4.7 miles from Dog Canyon.

McKittrick Ridge Campground – A beautiful ridge campground with eight campsites accessible from either McKittrick Canyon or Dog Canyon.

Blue Ridge Campground – A solitary campground located 8-9 miles from Pine Springs with 5 campsites.

Marcus Campground – A 3.7 mile hike from Dog Canyon that crosses Manzanita Ridge and has views of West Dog Canyon before these five sites are reached.

Wilderness Ridge Campground – 5 campsites along the Permian Reef geology trail usually reached from the McKittrick Canyon area.

Shumard Campground – This location with 5 campsites is a 9.2 mile hike from Pine Springs through the Chihuahuan desert