Pine Springs Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

If not for the great locale for hiking, this would be a 2 star (nice views). As noted in other reviews, this is a paved parking lot, with sites in middle being parking spaces. Parking on perimeter have some tables. Due to middle spaces being pull through parking spaces, with the markers on ground and receipt post across street there was a misunderstanding with a couple of hikers who parked in wrong place and so camper who paid waited and waited for them to finish their hike (hikes here can take all day). IF you can, mark your spot with something before you leave.

We did not reserve but got last spot 27 for a Mon/Tues stay. Nice clean bathrooms with flush toilets and soap. Campground is adjacent to trailhead parking so busy and some parked cars overnight.  Nice view of stars and milky way. Only 1 short trail for dogs.

We also used this as base to go to Carlsbad Caverns.

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This is a good campsite but pretty much just a parking lot. Rv sites are easy to access (some are pull through, some are back in. There are bathrooms but no hookups. No generator use either so be prepared to dry camp. Great access to trails - we woke up and immediately did Guadalupe trail! Sites fill up on the weekends

I enjoyed my stay here. The best sites are on the perimeter of the lot.

Pros - clean bathrooms, dishwashing area, fresh water available, close to lots of great hiking, picnic tables are available on perimeter sites.

Cons - some sites are in the parking lot , no hot water in bathrooms or dish washing area, no showers.

This is a great campground if you have an RV, or are car camping. There isn't much privacy, and very little cell signal (Verizon). Other carriers reported better on Recreation.gov. Great for one night, but if I was to stay here longer, I'd prefer the tent sites.

We passed through with out 27' camper and full-size truck for a couple of nights in the winter. Exploring this under-the-radar park was our main goal, and we were impressed by what we saw. The campground was, well, a parking lot.

A couple of trailheads leave from here, and backpacking is really what it's all about here. Biking wouldn't be much fun, as the only road into this area is SUPER steep and gets fast traffic. Proximity to the visitor's center is probably the biggest plus of this location. There's some decent birding here, if that's something you're into.

Otherwise, it's a cold, windy experience in the winter. Make sure you're ready for higher elevation and the temps that come with it.

As other reviewers have noted, the RV sites are basically a parking lot. I was able to get one on the outskirts so I had stunning views. The tent sites appear to be spaced nicely. All sites require reservations. The visitor center and trailhead rangers were very friendly and helpful. This is very wild Texas.

This is an asphalt parking lot in the middle of a wild, remote desert. It is not level or sheltered. It has a heated bathroom with running water, but no showers. It has a dumpster and recycling bins, a visitor's center nearby and a trailhead. It is a great disappointment to drive so far out of the way to "camp" at the foot of majestic peaks on a concrete lot. Next time I'll try Carlsbad.

Guadalupe mountains is such an under-rated national park! Most of the hiking here is pretty intense as most of this park is in the backcountry...definitely a backpackers and hikers paradise. Be sure to do you research on wildlife in the area if you aren't from around here. Also, the campground has skunks that walk around, make sure you zip your tent so that the door zipper is at the top of your tent because they have been know to open doors and crawl into bed with people. Site was a short walk away from my parked car

General: There is a tent section and an RV section; RVs of any kind (including our van) are not allowed in the tent sites. We pulled into what we thought was an overflow parking lot to discover it WAS the campground! 

Site Quality: Diagonal paved parking spaces along the perimeter - each large enough to fit a camper and additional vehicle; these have picnic tables but no hookups or other amenities. The sites in the middle are suitable for larger RVs (Class A) but they don’t have picnic tables. On the upside, the sites are level and there is a gorgeous view of the mountains. 

Bathhouse: Decent bathhouse with flush toilets and sinks. Soap dispensers and air dryers but no paper towels. No showers. 

Activities: Lot of hiking trails, many of them strenuous; the most popular one is the Peak trail. We opted for McKittrick Canyon; the trailhead for this hike requires a drive.

Other: This is the FIRST place in all of Texas (and we’ve been in the state for over a week) where we have seen recycling receptacles! There is also a dishwashing sink, a nice bonus. Be aware that your smartphone/watch may not give you the correct time (my Apple watch and my husband’s Garmin displayed different times!) The park is on mountain time although it is close to the border of central time so expect confusion.) Quiet hours are 8 pm– 8 am, longer than usual but not a problem for us. Limited cell service with Verizon. This was not what we expected for a campground, and we were dismayed that it was paved; with the views, it could have been a much nicer campground if more natural.

We loved the scenery and the surroundings but the campground is not really a campground, it’s a parking lot. Lovely evening - and met very friendly campers - no host, and at 12:30 very loud knuckleheads came in with no consideration for the other campers as they kept the diesel truck running and headlights on while they set up camp. Other than that - clean bathrooms and cleaning station. Not many camping options in this area but we are glad we stayed. Visitor center informative. The corner sites are the best if you want a little privacy. We had reserved 31 but moved to 25 on-site (easy change on res.gov) in order to spread out a bit. Can easily see Carlsbad and hike in Guadeloupe from here. Loved the bat flight at Carlsbad!!! Also hiked Smith Springs Trail is an easy 2.5 mile hike that goes back into one of the canyons to a beautiful spring!

Guadalupe Peak trail was an awesome hike to the highest point in the state of Texas.

Camping at the base, next to the trail head was not as awesome. It was super windy, completely exposed to the sun, no privacy, and I got stuck with an RV spot despite being a tent camper since that was the only thing available. I had to shift around all of my gear and sleep in my trunk.

The redeeming factor was the nice, clear night and incredible stargazing.

I found it to be fantastic, it was close to trail and well maintained. Please note this is a boon-docking site, and limit on generator use. It is right next where trail starts for Guadalupe Peek. When I visited the winds were exceptionally high. One day gusts got to near 75mph. Winds were coming out of NW and that is the direction the rv spots faced. I did bring my slide in for peace of mind. Be sure to look at wind forecast before you travel

The campground is a parking lot within the National Park. You must have a reservation and it’s $20/night.

Has clean bathrooms, running water, water fill up, and trash. Close to trailheads and visitor center.

Clean basic amenities. We used a RV site with our Campervan. The RV site could be more charming (it is basically a parking lot). Prefer the tent site.

It’s literally a parking lot. Close to a trailhead. It’s reservation only now.

If you're coming to hike, then its great. Many trailheads just feet away including the Guadalupe Peak summit trail. Restrooms are clean. Beautiful background scenery. Very quiet while I was there. If you're not coming to hike, then it's basically a parking lot with a bathroom and picnic tables. I came to hike so it was totally worth the $20.

We thought enforcement was a bit over the top but it is a np cg. Great sunrises.

Just like others have said, the RV camping is a parking lot. But when we were there in mid September, there only maybe 6 or 7 "RVs" camping. Most of the traffic was people parking for the trail head. Speaking of trails, the hiking from this campground is spectacular! Guadalupe peak was the trail everyone came to do, but there are multiple others that are just as beautiful. On those trails we were the only people our hiking. There is a nice restroom facility and potable water. You cannot hook your RV up to the water pump so bring a large jug to help fill up your water tank if needed. There is also a water bottle filler in the restroom building. The tent camping area is nice, with defined sites, not a parking lot 😉 You can run your generator until 8pm, although not many did. It cools down in the evening in mid September which was good for sleeping. There is no dump station. The views from the campground are great and the sunrise and sunset light is phenomenal.

This National Park is a gem for its rugged beauty and isolation. The “campground” is a paved parking lot conveniently located at the head of several trails in the park. The parking lot can accommodate cars up to larger RV’s in the pull through spots. There are envelopes located in 2 different locations. The kiosk by the restrooms are for the campground and the kiosk by the trail head are for the trail. You have to pay for access to the trails, but if you pay for camping, then you’re good. When I camped here there was a park ranger on site. There are also tent camp sights adjacent to the parking lot campground. Quiet camping under beautiful starry skies with awesome hiking!

It's first come first serve, and seems to fill up quickly, but if you get a spot it's a really cool area at the base of the mountains. Easy access to trailheads, bathrooms, visitor center. It's crowded (as in there are lots of other campers around you) but everyone has a designated spot to fit a few tents. Still pretty cold in April!

The tent sites are clustered together near the vault toilet (smelly) and they are all walk in sites. Only tents are allowed in this area. The RV parking lot is by flush toilets and sink area. No tents are allowed. The flies were terrible! It is really hot right now and shade is limited.

Limited sites fill up very fast as no reservations are available. Get there at sunrise and pounce on any spots that come open. Decent bathroom, no showers. Right next to trailheads so great for hiking.

It’s just a parking lot but it made it really convenient to hike Guadalupe Peak and explore a bit of the park by foot.

Spots open up randomly during the day.

There is no reserved marker on the parking/camping spots. So it feels like you shouldn’t leave your spot to drive somewhere else or someone else might take it. But we saw folks use cones to indicate a spot was taken and volunteers monitored available spots during the day.

Dates: 12/30/2020

Vehicle: Dodge Caravan

Camp Setup: 2 Person Tent

The Pine Springs camp sites are amazing! Each camp site is tucked away amongst trees and cacti, creating something of a mini-interpretive trail just getting to your site. This provided some much appreciated seclusion and privacy from other campers, but was not overly inconvenient for unpacking or using facilities. When we arrived, it was snowing, creating an absolutely magical atmosphere!

The campground includes plenty of parking for campers, as well as a few restrooms at the end of campground road.

As others have noted, the campground is currently first-come-first-serve. We arrived late morning (11 am or so), and most of the spots were already taken by that point. It was snowing and near freezing, so I can imagine that the spots go even quicker in better weather. 

I've stayed at campgrounds in other National Parks (Glacier, Zion, Bryce Canyon), and this is by far my favorite thus far. Very highly recommend!

Late December

Stayed 1 night in camper van. Tent sites were full so stayed in RV parking lot. Sites were painted lines on the concrete but big enough to have some space to yourself if you park correctly. Had a couple more secluded sites tucked in the corner. Free water pump, no electric. Bathrooms and dish station conveniently located. Trailheads in parking lot. Great location and $15. Would stay again

My friends and I stayed at Pine Springs Halloween weekend, first come first serve basis for reserving. We arrived around 10am and there were still 10 or so spots left, we ended up at spot 19. Even with 30+ campsites, our site was tucked away and it felt secluded. The campground is right next to the visitor center and next to some major trailheads. Bathrooms are close as well. Be sure to bring cash for your campsite deposit! :)

Stayed: 10/12 - 10/14/2020 - $15/night

Site: 5

Vehicle: Hyundai Rogue

Equipment: Tent

Beautiful little first come, first served campground within Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pretty private for the most part, although we could easily see site 4 and the people staying there.

I was hoping for site 1 or 2, as you can park directly in-front of the site, but those were both taken, along with sites 19& 20. Site 5 wasn’t too bad of a walk from the parking area, but it was a little further back. This was fine because we had privacy and two separate areas. One with our picnic table and a second area for the tent. We just weighed the tent and tarp down with rocks, because it was too rough for the stakes.

We were excited to stay here so that we would have easy access to the Guadalupe Peak trail in the morning. A short trail takes you to the visitor center. The campground is right at the trailhead of 4 trails and is adjacent to the RV section. The RV section holds the trailhead, water filling station, bathrooms, potable water, dishwashing station and self-registration.

It was nice to have bathrooms and running water after a long trip. No showers. Beautiful views of the mountains and stars. A great place to stay if you’re visiting the park for more than a day!

AT&T and Sprint: Poor & spotty

A visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is not complete without a hike up to Guadalupe Peak which the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet (2,667 m). This trip was better and brighter because I had the opportunity to test a new light system by HeadSpin Outdoors. 

On your way into the park fill up with gas and pick up supplies either in the towns of Fort Stockton, Pecos or Van Horn. The route passing through Pecos is more direct, but the road is often crowded with large trucks traveling to the oil fields. The route that passes through Van Horn is longer, but more relaxing and scenic. I advise taking the route through Van Horn.

Campground Review: 

Guadalupe Mountains National Parks operates on a first come first served basis and does not take campsite reservations. If you are driving to the park from one of the major Texas cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin you must leave early in the morning (4am) to arrive early at the park (1pm) in order to secure a campsite. The drive is typically 8 to 10 hours. We elected for a different plan. We left after work at 6pm on Thursday, drove 5 hours and camped at Monahans Sandhills State Park. Reservations can be made at almost all of the Texas State Parks, so we made a reservation at Monahans Sandhills SP.  We knew that we could arrive late and still have a reserved campsite. Then the next day we continued to GMNP at a leisurely pace. We arrive by 1pm and secured one of many available campsites - #12.  

Arriving by mid-day allowed us the option to choose between a number of short trails to acquaint ourselves with the park and acclimatize to the higher altitude. We had the options to explore The Devils Hall trail, The Smith Spring trail or The Pratt Cabin trail. We elected to hike the Pratt Cabin trail. 

The Pratt Cabin trail was a nice introduction to the park for the first time visitors in our group. The trail is a 4.8 miles long out and back hike, relatively flat and the leaves were just starting to change colors. There was water in the creek. And at the turnaround point of our hike there was a historic stone cabin - Pratt Lodge. We returned to camp and had a nice meal. Campfires are not allowed in GMNP so we brought a propane camp stove.The night was cool, but pleasant.

The next day we woke up early and set off for the hike up to Guadalupe Peak. The hike typically take about 4 hours up and 3 hours down. We left early at 8am so that we could avoid the potential crowds. Our group summited without any problems in about 3:30 hours. We celebrated at the top, took some photos, signed the log book and took in the views. We then descended the trail. On our way down the wind picked up and at one corner the wind was whipping around at what I would estimate 40 mph. We reached our campsite by early afternoon and relaxed. At the Pine Springs campsite the winds picked up speed and for the rest of the day and into the night. Many tents in the campground were collapsing or blowing down. Luckily we had secured our tents with extra cordage and rocks. 

Overall, this is an excellent park to car camp or backpack. On previous trips to this park I've backpacked up to Guadalupe Peak as well as Pine Top. There are many good trails with trailheads near the Pine Spring campsites. There are latrine toilets near the tent camping sites and normal toilets near the RV camping sites. There are no showers in the park so be prepared to embrace nature.The true beauty of this park is not really the summit of Guadalupe Peak, but the rustic nature of the high desert trails and views.

Product Review of HeadSpin Light System 

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a HeadSpin Light System.

For more info: www.headspinoutdoors.com

I was immediately impressed with the HeadSpin Light System when it arrived in the mail. When I unboxed the product I discovered that it was contained within a sturdy semi-hard case. There were five easily identifiable pieces within the kit - the light head, a handle, a headband, a bicycle mount and a wall charging plug. There was also an instruction manual, sticker and USB cord. The system is very intuitive to use.

The light head is the primary unit that can be combined with the accessories to form multifunctional lights. I'm a fan of good design and I liked the rounded square form of the light head. It has four buttons on top. One button turns on the unit. One button increases or decreases the intensity of the light. One button switches the light pattern from wide to spot. And one button switches the light to a flashing strobe. 

I received the light system just prior to my trip, so I wasn't able to charge the unit at home. One of the great advantages of this product is that it is a rechargeable light with a lithium ion battery. I took the entire kit in the car and charged it with the included USB cable plugged into the car socket. The USB cable can also be plugged in to any portable power bank. By the time that we reached our destination, the unit was charged. This came in handy as we set up our tents in the middle of the night.

The next day we hung the HeadSpin light in a tree above our camp kitchen and used it like a lantern to cook. The soft wide light provided great lighting for camp chores.

I also used the light for walking on some trails. Typically I used the lowest setting, because this light is bright. I played around with the higher settings but my friends kept asking me to turn it down because it was too bright. Hahaha, too bright. See the demo video.

I only used the light system with the headband accessory. I didn't use the handle nor the bike attachment. I think that the handle would be useful around the house. I think that bike attachment plus the headband attachment would be great for a bike packing trip. One could attach the light to the bike's handlebar when riding. Then disconnect it and spin it onto the headband for other activities.  

So who might like this light system? Anyone that likes multi-functional lights. I think that I'll find use for it around the house. It would also be useful to keep within a vehicle. This would be ideal for bikepacking. Hunters might like the intensity of the light, but I'm guessing that they would like a red light added. And of course it would always be useful for camping. If you are in to overloading where you need a reliable, rechargeable bright light this product would be a no brainer. The ability to charge the light from a variety of sources makes this a game changer for me. 

Likes:

Super bright light

Super soft light

Multifunctional

Outlet and USB rechargeable 

Nice design

Quality construction

Dislikes:

I'd like to see a red and maybe a green light

I'd like the buttons to be a little more tactile

Overall I am very impressed with the HeadSpin Light System. I have the feeling that I am just starting to discover all of the functions, features and uses. If you'd like to find out more about the light system or buy one visit their website at: www.headspinoutdoors.com

This campground is very scenic and right at the base of Guadalupe peak. It is very close to the visitors center. There are 4 trailheads that start here and the GPT is very strenuous and 100% uphill. You can also climb El Capitan or hike to Devil's Hall. The views here are hard to beat. I would not go in summer months but that's my personal opinion. They don't reservations. First come, first served