Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a National Park in Texas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 8 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Guadalupe Mountains
We matched 8 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Guadalupe Mountains. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Natural Arches (2)
Mountain Peaks (4)
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain PeakCanyons (1)
Mountain Passes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Guadalupe Mountains the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:01 AM | 8:37 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:18 PM | 246° | 10h 17m |
| February | 7:43 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:47 PM | 256° | 11h 04m |
| March | 8:11 AM | 8:43 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:08 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 7:31 AM | 8:04 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:29 PM | 282° | 12h 58m |
| May | 7:03 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:50 PM | 293° | 13h 47m |
| June | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:32 PM | 9:08 PM | 299° | 14h 13m |
| July | 7:05 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:32 PM | 9:07 PM | 296° | 14h 02m |
| August | 7:25 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:45 PM | 287° | 13h 20m |
| September | 7:44 AM | 8:17 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:07 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 8:04 AM | 8:36 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:28 PM | 260° | 11h 25m |
| November | 7:29 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:01 PM | 249° | 10h 32m |
| December | 7:53 AM | 8:30 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:58 PM | 243° | 10h 05m |
Computed for the park's reference point (31.9230, -104.8855); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Guadalupe Mountains, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:29 AM – 6:19 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 4:40 AM – 6:40 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 2:35 AM – 6:05 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| May | 12:34 AM – 5:24 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 10:48 PM – 5:08 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 10:45 PM – 3:45 AM | 5.0 | 29° |
| August | 10:14 PM – 1:44 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| September | 9:30 PM – 11:40 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 8:50 PM – 9:40 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
The Guadalupe Mountains are known for high winds year-round; gusts can reach 60MPH or higher. In winter the mountains experiences occasional, light snowfalls which seldom last more than a day. From May through October, temperatures vary with highs between 80F-100F+ with lows in the 40F-60F range. November to April is generally milder with highs in between 50F-70F with lows in the 30F-50F range. Elevations above 8,000’ will be about 10F cooler than headquarters, with corresponding wind-chill.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 31% average cloud cover) and August as the cloudiest (49%). June is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located on the north side of US Hwy 62/180. If you are traveling east from El Paso, TX, we are 110 miles East of the city. Follow US Hwy 62/180 North to the Pine Springs Visitor Center. If you are traveling from Van Horn, TX, you will travel north on US 54 and make a right-hand turn at the junction of US 62/180 to arrive at the park. If you are traveling west from Carlsbad, NM, you will travel on US Hwy 62/180 South and cross into Texas. Follow signs to the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Auto Off-Roading
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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