The hike to the Pratt Cabin, and on past to the “Notch” in McKitrick Canyon, is considered one of the most beautiful in the entire state. Having just completed this 9 mile out-and-back hike, we don’t disagree. The fall colors in McKitrick Canyon were simply amazing, with many species of deciduous trees beginning to turn, presenting a palette of colors that ranged all the way from emerald green to deep red.
Taking The Long Way There – The “most beautiful hike in Texas” is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about an hour’s drive south of Carlsbad, New Mexico. We recently made the trip out this way as part of an off-highway overland route that began near Dell City, TX and the Salt Basin dunes, and continued into New Mexico. From there, we wound our way around the Brokeoff Mountains, and up into the Lincoln National Forest, then climbed our way up to the historic Dark Canyon fire tower – built in 1949 and one of only two of its kind still standing.
After exploring this part of the Lincoln National Forest, we headed into Carlsbad, then down to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to hike the McKitrick Canyon trail.
Best Time to See McKitrick Canyon Fall Colors
Visitors to Guadalupe Mountains National Park who are hoping to see the fall leaves in McKitrick Canyon will find the best colors from mid-October to mid-November. We arrived on November 1, and weren’t disappointed! This is one of the busiest times of the year, which is why we arrived at the gate early that morning (before it opened – at 8:00 Mountain time). The park ranger let us in a few minutes early, and we began our hike just as the sun was peeking into the canyon.
How Long is The Hike in McKitrick Canyon?
There are actually several destinations for out-and-back hikers in the canyon. The most popular hike, which allows visitors to see fall colors, is to Pratt Cabin. This is a round-trip distance of 4.8 miles or about 2-4 hours in length. It’s a fairly easy hike along a well-marked trail, and is considered moderate only for its distance. Hikers should bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat and wear good hiking shoes for the rocky trail. There were a couple of stream crossings along the McKitrick Canyon hiking trail, but these were easily traversed by stepping on exposed rocks.
The Grotto (seen below) features some interesting calcite formations under an overhanging ledge alongside the creek. This is also a great spot to stop and have a picnic at one of several old tables which were made from locally-sourced stone. The same type of rock was also used to make the roof of the Pratt Cabin.
Pratt Cabin in McKitrick Canyon
If you were a successful petroleum geologist in the early days of the oil boom era, and you’d found the most beautiful spot in Texas, what else would you do but buy it, and build a cabin there? In 1921, Wallace Pratt bought several thousand acres in the area, which he called the Manzanital Ranch. He and his family built a stone cabin and outbuildings, which still stand today, using mostly materials from the land. Pratt’s ranch became a popular place for visiting geologists, who came to study the rich geological history of the canyon. Eventually, the family donated the land to the National Park Service in 1963. You can find the full story of the cabin here on the park website.
There are several rocking chairs on the front porch of the old stone cabin, where visitors can sit and imagine just how lucky the owners must have felt to enjoy their morning coffee with such an amazing view.
Hiking on to The Grotto and The Notch
For those who want to extend their hiking a bit more and also see a spectacular view of McKitrick Canyon from above, the Notch hike is well worth the extra effort. This is considered a difficult hike, mostly because of the elevation gain. The distance to the Notch is 9 miles (out-and-back), and takes from five to six hours. You can find all the estimated hiking times here on the Guadalupe Mountains National Park website.
The photo below shows what the view looks like from near the Notch.
Along the hike up to the Notch, you’ll pass some beautiful fern-covered ledges, where a small spring emerges from the canyon walls. (Below)
There were also some very nice fall colors all along the trail to the Notch.
More Fall Colors In McKitrick Canyon
The Texas madrone tree, Arbutus xalapensis, is an evergreen that lives in this region at altitudes of between 3,000′ and 10,000′. In the fall, it produces bright red berries, which – as we could see from many scat piles along the trail – are consumed by several species of desert animals.
Other Things to Do in The Area
Visitors to Guadalupe Mountains National Park should plan on spending at least a few days here in order to see more of this beautiful area. There are dozens more hiking trails in the park, including some made to accommodate visitors of all abilities. Carlsbad Caverns, located about an hour’s drive north of McKitrick Canyon road, has been called one of the great wonders of the natural world and shouldn’t be missed.
For cavern visitors traveling with pets, the park service offers a free kennel area. Dogs should never be left unattended in a vehicle – especially out here, where temperatures can soar to lethal levels in a few minutes.
In Carlsbad, New Mexico, the Living Desert State Park is an interesting place to visit, especially if you’re curious about the creatures and plants who live in the Chihuahuan desert. En route to Carlsbad, you can also check out Black River Recreation Area, about 25 miles southwest of the city along US 62/180. This 1,200 acre natural area features a series of wetlands and pools lined with tall cottonwood trees. For those who are into birding, this is a great spot to see several unique species who either live or migrate here.
If you love camping under starry skies, there are other state and national parks in the west Texas region worth exploring. You can find more information about them by reading our post The Best Dark Sky Parks in Texas.
