Campsite #5 at Dog Canyon Campground, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

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$20

Tent Site #5

12 reviews
Walk-In 6 people
2 poor
5
6/2
6/13
Campsite #5 Features: Walk-In access, Back-In parking, Picnic Table, Tent Site, Pets Allowed

Campsite Reviews (12)

5.0 out of 5

5 star
67%
4 star
33%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%

@LindaK3043012 · Camped on Mar 29, 2024 at Campsite #5
Small, remote campground (YAY!) with convenient services and parking. Most sites are very close to each other but the small campground is quiet so not really an issue. Availability of shade/not is well documented on the reservation site. The 3 local hikes are described on the board at the bathrooms. All hikes at https://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/dogcyn_dayhikes.htm. Hikes are not described in the NPS brochure.
@JenaL5248106 · Camped on Mar 12, 2024 at Campsite #5
This campground was clean, secluded, and had nice facilities. My misunderstanding of the term "dry campground" had us bringing a lot of water along, but there were bathrooms and drinking water (no showers). Lovely host and a small ranger station staffed by a kind volunteer.
@DennisT6574526 · Camped on Oct 9, 2023 at Campsite #5
Nice small campground with great hiking. Has not been crowded the two times we have been there but if it was the sites are too close together.
@NicholasW99752 · Camped on Oct 3, 2023 at Campsite #5
Incredible sites and great facilities. Epic drive in. When we went we were the only people there. Can't wait to go back and spend more time.
@WILLIAMM503355 · Camped on Apr 17, 2023 at Campsite #5
Enjoyed my visit. Nice to have flush toilets and a heated bathroom. Trails were well maintained and marked.
@DJW6256060 · Camped on Apr 4, 2023 at Campsite #5
Everything was pretty nice, the bathrooms could have used a little attention (out of tp, broken urinal).
@ThomasW103 · Camped on Dec 27, 2021 at Campsite #5
Excellent but remote campsites as it takes 80 minutes to get to the main road by one of two routes. The sites are very clean and have sand pads which make it easy to install tents in a windy region of the park. It is a short walk from the camping site to two community parking lots and you have to carry camping equipment a short distance from the car to the site. The bathrooms at the ranger station and in the campground for such a remote location are very modern and clean. Bring body wipes as there are no showers anywhere in Dog Canyon.
@TomK544 · Camped on Nov 27, 2021 at Campsite #5
I had a great time here, 4/5 mainly due to the proximity of the campsites. I visited at the end of November/Early December, and there was total silence in camp at night (no bugs, little wind), and you can hear your neighbors unzipping their tents, sneezing, snoring, etc. They are just too close together. Given that and that quiet hours begin at 8 PM, this is not a place to bring a group and expect to be talking, listening to the radio, laughing, into the evening.
It is very remote. No cell service, internet is available right next to the ranger station. The closest town of Queen is ~20 miles has a cafe and very minimal store (it is far more a little cafe than a convenience store). It's ~70 miles to a gas station in either Whites City (there's only one, with a better convenience store inside a gift shop on the way to Carlsbad Caverns) or Carlsbad (which is the closest real city nearby). Much of those 70 miles are on well maintained but windy mountain roads with deer and open range cattle. I wouldn't speed, and I drove it in the dark twice far under the speed limit given the deer. So if you forgot something and really need to find a walmart, or are craving a meal outside what you brought, you're going to spend roughly 3 hours round trip just getting getting out of dog canyon to the edge of carlsbad and back.

There are two main trails there, which are also connected by an "unmaintained trail" which can be done as a loop. They have fantastic scenery.

I spent almost a full week here which I think was too long, as once I'd covered the trails in the area to my ability level, this is not a good base to then explore other attractions in the area given the drive and that it is dicey and slow to do leaving or returning the dark. The Pine Springs campsite is over 2 hours drive away, which I did in order to hike Guadalupe peak, and not quite as remote and is accessed by a major highway. If I were to stay here again it would be 2-3 nights.
@GaryP749 · Camped on Oct 25, 2021 at Campsite #5
Nice quiet, small campground. Perfect spot to chill.

Sadly, there were a few reserved sites that weren’t occupied. Reservation system is great. Let’s honor each other’s desire to stay here by cancelling if you are not coming.
@JamesS789 · Camped on Oct 24, 2021 at Campsite #5
Dog Canyon is a great launch point for your next Guadalupe Mountain adventure. The ground campground is in great condition, the bathrooms were very clean. The trails leading up into the mountains are a little easier to climb than from the other trailheads, but the trails are not for beginners. The ground trails are easy to follow, but the rocks along much of the trail are large enough that foot placement is essential to avoid ankle injuries. The trails at peak elevations are still easy to follow, but are a bit overgrown, so wear long pants to avoid scraps and scratches.
@wolfgangA564 · Camped on Oct 17, 2021 at Campsite #5
Beautiful setting for watching sunrises and sunsets. Everything is nice and clean and I loved the wind/rain shelters for tent campers. Excellent value too. Thank you.
@KaylenT601 · Camped on Oct 8, 2021 at Campsite #5
Great campground! Sink to wash dishes, flushable toilets, beautiful views.

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