Guadalupe Mountains

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a remote park in northwest Texas, close to the New Mexico border and near Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The park offers excellent backcountry and backpacking opportunities (over 80 miles of hiking trails). McKittrick Canyon is one popular trail in the park, especially in fall, when colors can be present. Texas highest peak is also located here: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 feet  or 2,667 meters). The trail is very steep and makes for a strenuous hike of 8.4 miles roundtrip with a 3,000 feet elevation gain! I tried to hike it once, but as warned by the park ranger, I turned back once we encountered a hail storms and high winds.