"Hike with Ashley, and Brooks (3.5) in backpack. Took a little under 4 hours on the way up and about 2.5 hours down. Total of just over 7 hours including time on top. Estimating with Brooks (~42 lbs), water, food/snacks, extra clothes, backpack, I was probably carrying around 60-65 lbs at beginning of hike. Was definitely over the weight limit for the Osprey Poco Plus and never want to hike with that much weight again." — Saucerito • May 1, 2025

"My brother (66) and I (61) took it slow and steady. About 4:15 up, 3:45 down. My old Merrills were a touch tight on downhill - will eventually lose both toenails. Advice: start at first light and take a gallon of water regardless of season. That wind really dries you out. Stretch those quads and calves." — Randall • Nov 15, 2024

"Hiked with Danny. We were in the parking lot pretty early and that ended up being a good thing because we got back to the parking lot before it got really hot. Not too difficult considering I was pretty out of shape. Spent a short time at the summit and took a couple photos. Lots of switchbacks really made the hike relatively easy." — LGH-Tom • Oct 21, 2024

"Full moon adventure, was given clear skies up until I started the descent. Massive storm clouds blotted out the sky and I forgo my original plan to climb up to El Capitan. Love the numerous class 3 shortcuts that connect to the main trail. The rock quality here is amazing, near the top there are several exposed quartz deposits that shimmer in the night. " — MikeERodriguez • Sep 16, 2024

"Started out early to beat the heat, only to find that it rained in the morning. The clouds stayed around all day and obstructed the summit views. I didn’t care, though. I traded views for a cooler than usual July day. Meanwhile, I checked off the Texas state high point." — MikeTeeples • Jul 22, 2024

"What a great hike! My first 3000' gain hike in probably a year, and my first state high point in probably well over a year! Feels good to increment that tally by one. Time to get more serious about it again. I think this was state high point #29 for me? Gorgeous day - we were supposed to summit the day before (12/26) but they were forecasting 20 mph sustained/40 mph gusts at the peak, and a wind chill of 9°F. No thanks! So we did Carlsbad Caverns during that weather and did Guadalupe on 12/27 instead! Busy trail, and we made fantastic time. A year of getting back to running has really helped me out, which I'm so thankful for! Just such a cool hike. I'd never been to this part of Texas before. I'd love to come back and do some of the other trails, maybe backpack the backbone/ridge trail? Very cool experience. " — psychikingjes • Dec 27, 2023

"With my dad! Terrible weather and uncertainty about time zones delayed our start slightly. All in all a gorgeous hike despite zero visibility at the top (will have to come back). Top of Texas!" — broallen • Nov 10, 2023

"Ran up, ran down. Crushed it. Tried to bushwhack my way to El Cap out on the ridge but turned back on account of time and not wanting to step on a rattlesnake. Stoved my finger into rock when I fell running back down the mountain. Now it won’t straighten out 🤣🤦‍♂️" — wiweasel • Sep 30, 2023

"Drove out from Lubbock before sunrise and arrived in the parking lot around 10:20. I fumbled around my trunk for a solid 15 minutes getting all the layers and gear together that I figured I would need for the hike. The weather at the base of the mountain was windy and hardly above 40 Fahrenheit, so I dressed assuming conditions would be much worse at the top. After paying my fee at the visitors center I hit the trail at 10:50 and immediately started shedding layers. The trail gains elevation quickly from the get go, and things don’t level out until over two miles in, but even that is brief. A lot of hikers who had summited before me claimed that it was warm at the top, and to my surprise it was. Views are phenomenal on the final ascent to the summit and I spent nearly half an hour taking in the views from the top. I made it back to the car at 3:45 putting my trip at just under 5 hours." — tylerdelia • Dec 6, 2021

"This was my third time climbing Guadalupe Peak. I did this hike solo. I took the standard 8.2-mile route up and camped at the Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground. The Pine Springs Campground is the best camping option if you don't want to go backpacking. If you can't find camping there, then the Sunset Reef campground (free) near Carlsbad is a good alternative. In a pinch, you could also sleep at the Pine Spring Safety Rest Area (about 15 minutes north of the Pine Springs Trailhead on U.S. Hwy. 62). The trail is super easy to follow. You first follow the steep switchbacks up the mountain to the saddle. The trail becomes somewhat less steep after this, but by no means becomes flat. You keep following the path through a small pine forest until you reach a meadow. This meadow is where the wilderness campground is located. You turn right at the sign and hike maybe 500 ft. to the campground. There are five sites and they tend to fill up soon. All of them require you to have a backcountry permit which you can obtain at the visitor center. After this meadow, you will follow the path until you reach a wooden bridge. Once you make it to this point, you are ~75% of the way done. The tra..." — Noodles • Nov 14, 2021