Best Tent Camping near Dell City, TX
Tent campers visiting Dell City, Texas have access to numerous wilderness campgrounds within Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which sits approximately 35 miles west of town. The park offers several backcountry tent camping options including Tejas, Mescalero, McKittrick Ridge, Bush Mountain, and Shumard Canyon wilderness campgrounds. These primitive tent sites require backcountry permits and are designed specifically for tent campers seeking a remote experience in the highest terrain in Texas.
Backcountry tent camping in this region requires substantial preparation. Most wilderness campgrounds lack basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, trash collection, or picnic tables. Fires are prohibited throughout these tent camping areas, so campers must use containerized fuel for cooking. Sites are positioned on rugged terrain with minimal improvements. The Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground offers slightly more facilities with toilets, trash disposal, and drinking water available, though most other backcountry tent sites provide only tent pads with no additional services. A visitor commented that "the hike up has great views, then you drop down in a valley for the camp sites," describing the approach to Tejas Wilderness.
Areas farther from developed facilities offer deeper solitude for tent campers. The backcountry sites require varying hike-in distances, with many accessible only by foot. Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground sits 3.1 miles from the visitor center with substantial elevation gain. A camper wrote, "We spent the night in the campground and woke up ready to catch the summit sunrise. Morning temps were cool and clear." Tent campers should be prepared for high winds that frequently sweep across these exposed mountain sites, particularly at McKittrick Ridge and Tejas campgrounds. Many sites feature rock windbreaks and scattered tree cover for some protection, but securing tents with additional guy lines is essential regardless of conditions upon arrival. The primitive nature of these tent sites allows for an immersive wilderness experience away from modern conveniences.
