Day Hike - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Trip Overview

Dates: March 6th-11th, 2026

This trip visits three national parks in west Texas and southern New Mexico, focused on moderate to strenuous hiking and cave exploration. The itinerary begins in Carlsbad Caverns National Park with ranger-led cave tours, with an optional wild caving trip at nearby Parks Ranch Cave (equivalent to scrambling). The trip then continues to Guadalupe Mountains National Park for two days of hiking, highlighted by a summit of Guadalupe Peak, the highest peak in Texas. A planned free day in El Paso precedes the final stop at White Sands National Park, where the focus is on dune hiking and exploration.

Temperatures in March are expected to be mid-40s to high 60s with an average temp in the mid 50s.

You can view the detailed itinerary here.

Day 1: Land in El Paso and drive to Carlsbad.

Day 2: Carlsbad Caverns Lower Cave Tour and Self-Guided Big Room Tours. Optional wild caving at Parks Ranch Cave.

Day 3: Summit Guadalupe Peak–the Texas high point! Other hikes as desired. Overnight in Carlsbad.

Day 4: Day hiking at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Overnight in El Paso.

Day 5: Free day in El Paso. Optional activities at Franklin Mountains State Park and Desert Botanical Garden. Overnight in Alamogordo.

Day 6: Day hiking at White Sand National Park. Optional dune sledding. Return to El Paso and fly home.

Reservations & Logistics (Leader-Arranged Options)

The leader has arranged for lodging and transportation for those who wish to share costs:

• Vehicle rental ($270): Full-size sedan. Actual gas costs will be shared, but are estimated to be ~$100.
  
  
• Lodging ($480):
• White’s City Cavern Inn, Carlsbad, NM  (March 6th-9th)
• Hawthorn Extended Stay, El Paso, TX (March 9th-10th)
• Motel-6, Alamogordo, NM (March 10th-11th)

All lodging consists of a single room with two queen beds. 

If there is sufficient interest in the itinerary, the leader is open to securing additional logistics.

Participants who opt into these shared arrangements will divide the actual costs evenly among those participating. Estimated costs will depend on the size of the group.

• 3 participants = $284
• 4 participants = $213

The leader will secure reservations for the Carlsbad Caverns Lower Cave Tour and timed reservations for the self-guided Big Room tour for Saturday, March 7th.

A $200 deposit prior to the trip will be required for participants joining shared lodging and/or transportation. Balances will be settled after the trip. These arrangements are optional. Participants are welcome to provide their own transportation and lodging (see priorities below).

Important: Lodging, transportation, carpooling and meals are private arrangements among participants, not sponsored by the Mountaineers.

Individual Expenses

The following expenses will not be shared by participants:

• Airfare (~$400)
• Food
• Activities (~$30-40)
• Park entry fees (note: the leader has an America the Beautiful Pass, so these should be low)
• Souvenirs
• Additional logistics (rental vehicle, lodging) necessary to support a personalized itinerary (i.e. arriving early, staying late)

Transportation & Arrival

The leader’s flight itinerary is as follows:

• March 6th: Alaska flight 2003. SEA => ELP. Landing at 6:00 PM.
• March 11th: Alaska flight 2003. ELP => SEA. Landing at 9:45 PM.

The cost of these flights with Main fare is $400. Participants are encouraged to select the same itinerary. Alaska is the only non-stop flight to El Paso and there is only one flight to and from El Paso on Alaska per day. You may choose a different airline or itinerary as long as you arrive before and leave after the leader.

You should not purchase non-refundable tickets. While Alaska Main fares are technically non-refundable, you will receive the cost back as a credit toward a future Alaska flight (valid for 1 year).

Leader Permission & Priority Order

Leader Permission is required for this trip due to the logistics involved.

Priority will generally be given in the following order:

1. Participants who wish to do the entire itinerary and share in lodging and transportation costs.
2. Participants who wish to do the entire itinerary but provide their own lodging and/or transportation.
3. Participants who wish to join only one portion of the itinerary and share lodging/transportation.
4. Participants joining individual days only and/or providing all of their own logistics.

How to Request Leader Permission

When submitting a Leader Permission request, please clearly state:

• Which days you plan to join (entire itinerary or specific dates)
• Whether you are interested in shared transportation and/or shared lodging
• Whether you plan to provide your own transportation and/or lodging
• Whether you are interested in Parks Ranch Cave (roughly comparable to a rock scramble–helmet required).

Cancellation Policy

All shared logistics are refundable until very near the start of the trip. The trip will be cancelled if, as the date approaches, weather conditions are not favorable for a successful, enjoyable trip, especially the summit of Guadalupe Peak. This is why it is crucial to not purchase non-refundable budget airfare. 

See leader notes for details.