2 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dog Canyon Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers RV sites and tent camping areas with certain accommodations for those traveling with horses. The campground features a horse corral area located behind the RV sites, though reviews indicate these facilities may not be frequently used. The campground provides access to multiple hiking trails and maintains a remote setting approximately 1.5 hours from the nearest gas station. Campers should arrive with full tanks and necessary supplies. Water is available at the campground, and flush toilets are provided in the tent camping area. The winds can be brutal, sometimes exceeding 50 mph, particularly during certain seasons.
Trail access from Dog Canyon allows for exploration of the northern section of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The campground's remote location offers exceptional stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution. Dog Canyon is significantly cooler than lower elevation areas due to its mountain setting, making it more comfortable during hot weather. Reservations are recommended as the small campground fills quickly despite its remote location. The four RV sites are back-in only and best suited for smaller rigs under 25 feet. While horses are permitted, travelers should note that dogs are allowed in the campground but not on park trails. The campground lacks cell service, though WiFi is available near the visitor center.
"Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!"
"Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Close Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: This campground is the end of the road."
from $20 - $60 / night
Check Availability
GuideStayed in Dog Canyon for two nights. Every sunset and sunrise was jaw dropping. I loved the site I was in too, there were minimal trees blocking the mountains. I need to come back and summit the peak!!!!
TravelerShort walk to the campsites from the parking lot. The campground is extremely quiet and peaceful.
LegendDog Canyon RV area: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 3.5
Price 2024: $ 10 winteragency pass
Security: No
Usage during visit: 50 to 100%, however there are more no shows than usually experienced elsewhere.
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: Close
Pad surface: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: This campground is the end of the road.
Through Traffic in campground: Hiker parking area across from the RV sites
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes. I didn’t notice the hand pump to the left of the trailhead the first couple days here.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Flush toilets are a short walk, located in the tent camping area. There is also a heated bathroom at the visitor center which is a short distance further.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: All 4 sites are back in
Cell Service (AT&T): No bars. There is WiFi at the visitor center. We were able to periodically pick up WiFi at our campsite, RV- D.
Setting: Surrounded by ridges.
Recent Weather: Very windy and cold nights.
Solar: Excellent.
Insects: None
Host: Not filled.
Rig Size: i cannot imagine that these sites will accommodate rigs over 25’.
Sites: RV-A, and RV-D are on the ends. These are the best sites. RV-A door faces horse trailer parking area. No horse there trailers during our stay. RV- D is the best site if you can park your RV nose first. This makes sitting area more private . In RV- D and RV-A sites the occupant can spread out more.
GuideThis place is REMOTE! Like 1.5 hours away from any gas station remote. First and foremost make sure you fill up before you get off that highway. Whites City by Carlsbad is not to far. If youre coming that direction fill up before you go out there.
This campground does not have a lot of amenities. It has trash cans, a toilet, and some drinking fountains.. and the rest is nature. I really liked this place.
Dog Canyon is one of those places where the pictures just wont do it justice. Its big, youre little.
We spent 5 days @25$ a day
BATHROOOM SCORE: 3/5 # LEAKING TOILETS, LOW ON TOILET PAPER
STARLINK SCORE: 5/5
SOLAR SCORE:5/5
REMOTE WORKERS SCORE: 4/5
PS: the guys with the big trailers were not happy with the site... they are a little tight
TravelerWe first pulled up to the main campground and ranger station. The bathrooms were very dirty and not well kept. The campground for rv’s was just a parking lot. I held out hope for this campground and after a 2hr drive it was another parking lot for rv’s. Right next to each other. Luckily after the first night everyone else left and we were there all by ourselves until that night. Tent camping looked nicer.
LegendGeneral: small campground (four “RV” sites and nine tent sites (plus one group tent site). Access is remote (only one 60-mile paved option and one 30-mile dirt road alternative) so you need to make sure you have filled up with gas in Carlsbad as there are no services within many miles of the campground. No cell reception at all (not unexpected). Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!
Site Quality: The “RV” sites are just a gravel parking lot. Each site has a picnic table and while the sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart, there is no physical separation between the sites. No hookups. The tent sites are walk-in.
Bathhouse: We were expecting a pit toilet in such a remote location but there is one men’s and one women’s bathroom with a flush toilet and sink. They were very clean. Soap dispensers but no paper towels. Although there was no hot water, the restrooms were heated, which was a nice bonus.
Activities: There is a .6-mile nature trail and several more challenging hiking trails. There was a horse corral behind the RV sites, but we did not see any horses while there. About 25 miles away is Sitting Bull Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that is a nice side trip.
We camped here because we were not able to get reservations in the other more popular campground in Guadalupe Mountains NP. Access between the two sides of the park is long (about 60 miles) so while this was a nice, comfortable campground, it is not easy to get to.
GuideThis campsite is very remote, but it is gorgeous. It’s quite small, with only 4 RV spots and several tent spots. There is no cell phone service, but there is free Wi-Fi available. There are bathrooms, but no showers. It’s about 1.5 hours from the closest gas station so make sure to fill up before heading in. Dogs are allowed at the campsite, but not on any of the trails. I definitely recommend this site if you are going to be hiking around the national parks (Guadalupe Mountain and Carlsbad Caverns). It was also very windy when we were there in December, so bring warm clothes!
TravelerThis was our first time visiting and it was absolutely amazing!!!! I will absolutely plan another trip back. The park Ranger (I can’t remember her name but I want to say it was Bev) was awesome. She was so kind and helpful and kept the park looking crisp and clean. We went the last week of February and stayed on a Sunday night. We were the only people in the park, including RVs and day-use. That creeped us out a bit since it’s so secluded and you don’t have cell service whatsoever, but the Ranger made us feel comfortable and like we had a friend there. I don’t know what it would be like during the busy season when it’s crowded because the campsites felt like they were on top of each other (like if you went camping with a group of people and you wanted to be close) but we didn’t have to worry about it since we were the only ones. My only complaint (and I didn’t dock a star on my review because it could’ve been that my fiancé and I just poorly planned and we also didn’t ask for help or clarification) was that the trails were not well marked. We hiked but we had no idea how far we went or what trail we were on, we just walked. That was frustrating because I wanted to keep going but I didn’t want to get lost, but the hiking was still gorgeous and enjoyable so I would still do it again.
The mountains are stunning but what keeps replaying over in my mind is the stargazing. I’m an amateur stargazer and I brought my telescope to check it out but unfortunately it was so cold and windy I couldn’t set it up long enough to use it. However, the stars were so bright and so vivid I couldn’t take my eyes off of the sky. And the moon came out over the mountains (which was almost a full moon) and it was like someone turned on a spot light on the campground. It was breathtaking.
We didn’t really get a pleasurable experience outside of that because it got so cold overnight (earlier that day the ranger warned us that it was supposed to be one of the coldest nights) and we weren’t really as prepared as we could’ve been so we ended up sleeping in the car with the heat on and leaving at first light but we are dying to go back again when it’s warmer. It also snowed incredibly heavily leaving the next day on our way out so the roads got pretty dangerous. Overall, still completely worth it!!!
If you go, at least take some binoculars for stargazing. You will absolutely not regret it!
GuideYou must carry your own water in. These are primitive desert backpacking sites. Since it is the first camp at the end of a fairly tough hike,it is often full. You must get a permit from the rangers to camp here. Fairly rocky, if you are lucky you will see elk. Beautiful night sky’s. The winds can be very brutal. (50 mph plus)
Dog Canyon Campground lies in the northern section of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located about 110 miles from El Paso. The campground sits at approximately 6,300 feet elevation, providing significantly cooler temperatures than surrounding lower areas. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at night, while summer daytime temperatures average in the 80s with nighttime lows in the 50s.
Hiking to McKittrick Ridge: From Dog Canyon Campground, hikers can access McKittrick Ridge via connecting trails. "We got the chance to hike the mejas trail which took up half the day. Absolutely one of the better camp spots," notes Jasmine L.
Visit Sitting Bull Falls: This spring-fed waterfall is about 25 miles from Dog Canyon. "About 25 miles away is Sitting Bull Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that is a nice side trip," shares Lee D., who camped at Dog Canyon.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location offers exceptional night sky viewing. "Beautiful night sky's. The winds can be very brutal (50 mph plus)," reports Charles A., who camped at Pine Top.
Quiet atmosphere: The remote setting appeals to those seeking solitude. "Beautifully located in a tranquil setting. Campgrounds are clean. Very quiet," shares Stacy R. from their stay at Dog Canyon Campground.
Comfortable temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief from Texas heat. "Though it is located in the desert in the middle of December it was still pretty warm," writes Jasmine L., who enjoyed camping at Dog Canyon.
Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to spot local fauna. "If you are lucky you will see elk," mentions Charles A. about their backcountry camping experience in the Guadalupe Mountains.
Remote location requires preparation: Gas stations are scarce in the area. "This place is REMOTE! Like 1.5 hours away from any gas station remote. First and foremost make sure you fill up before you get off that highway," warns Kurtis S. about their stay at Dog Canyon Campground.
Permit requirements: Backcountry camping requires permits. "You must get a permit from the rangers to camp here," notes Charles A. regarding wilderness camping in the park.
Weather conditions can be extreme: Be prepared for significant wind. "The winds can be very brutal. (50 mph plus)," warns Charles A. from their camping experience.
Time zone confusion: "Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time," advises Lee D. from their camping trip.
Pack plenty of water: Limited water sources mean planning ahead. "You must carry your own water in. These are primitive desert backpacking sites," explains Charles A. about Pine Top Wilderness Campground.
Utilize heated facilities in winter: "Although there was no hot water, the restrooms were heated, which was a nice bonus," shares Lee D. about their winter camping experience at Dog Canyon.
Choose sites strategically: Some locations offer more privacy. "RV-A and RV-D are on the ends. These are the best sites," advises Roger W. from their experience camping at Dog Canyon.
Size limitations for horse campgrounds near Dell City, Texas: "I cannot imagine that these sites will accommodate rigs over 25'," cautions Roger W. who stayed at Dog Canyon Campground.
Solar power works well: "Solar: Excellent," notes Roger W., indicating that solar setups function effectively at Dog Canyon equestrian camping areas.
Site orientation matters: "RV-D is the best site if you can park your RV nose first. This makes sitting area more private," recommends Roger W. based on their stay at the horse-friendly campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dell City, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dell City, TX is Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.
Keep Exploring
