Campsite #5 at Dog Canyon Campground, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX
Tent Site #5
Walk-In | 6 people |
2 | poor |




Campsite Reviews (12)
5.0 out of 5
5 star | | 67% |
4 star | | 33% |
3 star | | 0% |
2 star | | 0% |
1 star | | 0% |
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.
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.