This Underrated Texas Park Should Be At The Top Of Your Bucket List
By Jenna Busch
VACATIONS
The wonderful Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas is absolutely stunning but is one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park spans over 86,000 acres and features over 80 miles of hiking trails, plenty of animals, some primitive camping, and lots of space for yourself.
The park is best known for the Permian fossil reef mountain range. It features four of the highest peaks in the state, and you can sometimes find marine fossils in the rocks.
Guests can also visit the Salt Basin Dunes, a quiet and sandy-soiled area. Parts of the ground are covered by cryptogams — a lichen and fungal combo.
You can camp in certain areas across the park. It's back-to-basics camping with no showers, hookups, or dump stations, but there are pit toilets, tent pads, and trailer parking.
For the best view, hike up to the Guadalupe Peak Trail. If you want to visit, you can get a park entrance pass online, which is good for seven days.