Guadalupe Peak, Guadalupe Mountain National Park. (original) (raw)
The Dominance of Guadalupe Peak
The Peak can be seen from east of Carlsbad, toward Hobbs. It can be seen to about 60 miles west of Salt Flat. That spans well over 100 miles and no telling how far south toward Van Horn. It dominates Salt Flat and Salt Flat Lake.
The domination of Guadalupe Peak to the surrounding area is not totally unique in Texas. The Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National Park are visible throughout most of the park. The bluff of Guadalupe Peak, also known as Signal Peak and El Capitan, is at the southern end of the Guadalupe Mountain Range of the Rocky Mountains making it prominent from the east, west and south and offers limitless photographic opportunities.
Just read this morning in TIME that one can see the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, from 60 miles away on a clear day. Guadalupe Peak can be seen from at least that far away even on a not so clear day.
Nearby Points of Interest
Including the Peak itself, points of interest in the nearby region are the towns of Salt Flat and Dell City as well as the Salt Flat Lake. My guess is that the peak is visible, east and west for about 120 miles on US 180.
Guadalupe Peak
From US 180
Guadalupe Peak
From The South On SH 54
Guadalupe Peak -
Old Highway US180
1855
Back in the 1855 a stage was attacked by Indians and a man, Jose Maria Palacios, was killed. He was buried right where he fell, at the base of the Peak and a crude rock slab had the information scratched on it. These pictures of the old road was when I was trying to find the marker. A guide at the Guadalupe Mountain National Park headquarters said it is still there but the historian who knew where it was had not come in yet.
The rest stop on the old road
Photo Courtesy Barclay Gibson, November 2009
Again, on the old road was a quaint old Rest Stop. You have to get permission to hike up there.
Also sometime in the 1870s a wagon train had just crossed over the unimaginably difficult road through Guadalupe Pass when it, too, was attacked by Indians. The train was passing through a huge, white sand dune area. After the massacre, all trace was lost of the expedition until about twenty years ago a man flying over saw the remnants of the circle of wagons protruding from the dunes. Only last year (2008) it was located on the ground and has not been excavated yet. You can hike to the area under supervision of the Park Service only.
Guadalupe Mountain National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
"Park information, including park conditions, closures or restrictions, weather and program information, may be found on the park�s website at www.nps.gov or by contacting the Headquarters (Pine Springs) Visitor Center at (915) 828-3251 x2124. The Headquarters (Pine Springs) Visitor Center is open daily (except for Christmas) from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM. There is no public transportation to the park. The nearest gasoline, lodging and services are 35 miles away. Motorists traveling past the park along U.S. Hwy 62/180 may tune in to the park�s Traveler Information Station at 1610 AM for up-to-date park information."
Guadalupe Mountain near the Texas Mexico State line
Photo Courtesy Barclay Gibson, November 2009
From 1940 Texas state map #4335 showing Culberson County
& Guadalupe Peak
Courtesy Texas General Land Office