dog canyon

This review is intended to encourage people to visit Dog Canyon, especially those who have already visited Guadalupe Mnts, but who have stuck to the southern areas. I also hope that this review give some positive exposure to the park in general.While Guadalupe Peak rates high for being the TX high point, the views of the rest of the park tend to the drab and brown. This is due to the dual nature of the south vs. north faces of the Guadalupe range, where the South faces have far less and smaller foliage. Also, while McKittrick Canyon can have the greatest color variety in the late fall, the longer hikes from the McKittrick trail head force you to either turn back before reaching the best views, or force you to carry extra supplies and gear in order to camp at a back country site. This is true because the trail head at Mc Kittrick opens late and closes early. The Tejas trail accessible from Dog Canyon, joined to the McKittrick trail ends up with the same dramatic views as the McKittrick trail head, but can be accesses both earlier and later in the day, allowing the hike to be made in just one day, with the opportunity for fall colors along Dog Canyon, the great views of northern faces upon reaching Lost Peak, and indescribable beauty looking generally East into the McKittrick Ridge area available year round.Also available is a Tejas / Blue Ridge combo, with trails along some of the most dense forest within the park, or a Bush / Marcus / Blue Ridge combo to the same spot, or even a longer Bush / Blue ridge combo to reach Blue Ridge. All of these will have splendid views, be more isolated than the Southern trails, and provide a much nicer camping experience at Dog Canyon than Pine Springs to the South. This last comment is not a knock on Pine Springs, but the sites there are less shaded, less photogenic, less secluded, and have lesser restroom facilities than Dog Canyon. Dog Canyon is also at about 800 feet higher elevation, so the warm season visits are cooler.Several people have mentioned the remote setting of Dog Canyon, but the same 60 minutes from Carlsbad, NM will take you to either Dog Canyon or the more commonly visited Pine Springs. The difference is that one can easily drive South from Pine Springs, but Dog Canyon visitors either drive many miles on substandard dirt roads to go south, or must retrace the northern drive to Carlsbad to then move south. Assuming New Mexico decides to repair Sitting Bull Falls after the 2013 floods, that site is accessed along the same road as Dog Canyon and is worth the 5 dollar per vehicle admission, just to see an odd natural spring / waterfall in the middle of the Desert.Nature fans, hiking fans, and photography buffs should give the Dog Canyon trail head a shot.

We were pretty disappointed to make the long drive over to this secluded area of the park to find out a fire had come through in 2010 and left much of the area bare. The nature trail is no longer there and the hike to Marcus Overlook was very barren with burned out area. The views were beautiful at the Gap but not sure it was worth the drive. The campground is nice here and much prettier camping area than at the visitor center, though. Might be worth it if you are camping.

Off the beaten path may be an understatement for Dog Canyon. This is what makes it a special place for those who enjoy solitude. As the crow flies it's only about 10 miles from Pine Springs Campground and the headquarters of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, but it's a 3 hour drive. The most sensible way to get to Dog Canyon from Pine Springs is through Carlsbad, but you can also drive the other way through the very small town of Dell City, TX. which includes about a 20 mile dirt road. Bring all the food you will need as the nearest store of any size is in Carlsbad, about 67 miles away. Dog Canyon is a great place to camp. It's more sheltered than Pine Springs and has more trees. The entire campground only has 9 pads which will only hold one tent a piece. Over Martin Luther King day, we were the only ones there. There are two trails that begin at Dog Canyon, the Bush Mountain Trail and the Tejas Trail. The Bush Mountain trail travels west up the west side of the canyon and then back down the other side, then turns south and ascends up to the second highest peak in Texas, Bush Mountain in a total of 9.6 miles from the trailhead. The Tejas Trail follows the creek up the canyon passing by Lost Peak in about 3 miles. You can follow the Tejas Trail all the way back to Pine Springs in about 12 miles, or you can use the trail to connect to the McKittrick Canyon Trail. Both trails are well maintained and are great for those who don't want the crowds of the Guadalupe Peak Trail. There are several backcountry camps that are accessible from Dog Canyon with a permit.

If you're looking for a remote place to pitch a tent and enjoy nature WAY off the grid, this is the place you're looking for! Make sure you take everything you need for the length of your stay, because it will take over an hour to get to any kind of civilization. The hiking is great...there's even a nice little nature trail for the kiddos. There is running water and flush toilets, but no showers.

We went there by accident trying to find a new route to El Paso from the Carlsbad Cavers area.We stopped at the end of the road in Dog Canyon in our small motor homr, and decided to spend the night. After hiking up some interesting trails to the West, we arrived back "home" to find numerous deer at the ranger station horse enclosure, calmly munching on the hay left for the horses.Having a cocktail on the side of the motor home a short time later, the deer decided to befriend us. They not only came within reach, but stuch their heads into the door of the r v as we ate dinner.We also enjoyed the walks just to the East which were reputed to produce a number of old poles from Intdian tipis.Great spot, but dusty getting out if you go towards Dell City to the East towards El Paso.