Again, the trail steadily and almost imperceptibly heads uphill. The information center at the trailhead was pretty luxurious and if you were to go directly to the canyon trailhead, theres plenty of information to make your hike. It is possible to experience all of McKittrick Canyon in multiple, overnight days, but this itinerary is specifically designed for those looking to make the most out of a day hike on the McKittrick Canyon Trail. I recommend doing these first and if you still have time, then hike the McKittrick Canyon Trail. The canyon is one of the few spots within hundreds of miles with maple trees, so at this time of year the scenery is spectacular. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Somehow, though manmade, this cabin blends seamlessly into its environment, and is breathtaking in its humbleness. Working with other conservation organizations and Guadalupe National Park staff, they have spent the past few years studying the environment of McKittrick Creek and its suitability for reintroducing Rio Grande Cutthroats. To get here, look for signage directing off to the left of the main trail indicating the Grotto. Fly fishing is a much-romanticized pastime beloved by outdoorsmen the world over. GET SNEAK PEAKS | BEHIND THE SCENES | EXCLUSIVE CONTENT! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 29 min to complete. Oregon, what with all those abundant brisk and babbling waters, is indeed a trout fishermans paradise. A WIDE PRICE RANGE: The original Rounder at $129. Other imposing residents include elk and black bear, though they are less likely to be spotted. Baughman (1950. Examining historical and anecdotal evidence, and even some evolutionary biology, they claimed the evidence indicate[s] Texas may have had one indigenous salmonid, the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.. Whether you come for the fall show, or plan your trip for another season, the beauty of McKittrick Canyon is always breathtaking. | the Tickler at $129. The trail feels more sheltered and its a little easier to walk, now that you arent hiking on loose gravel. There is a self pay box at the trailhead, as well as a registry that all hikers should fill out for safety purposes. The one trail exception is the short Pinery Nature Trail located at the Visitor Center. As we already know, completely washing fish out of any location is highly improbable. If you are lucky enough, View Post Complete Guide to the Humphreys Peak Hike: Highest Point in ArizonaContinue, There is a common misconception floating around out there that the state of Texas is all just flat and, View Post The Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend: Hiking to the Top of a National ParkContinue, What makes hiking so enjoyable, is that no matter the person, there are all different types of hiking, so, View Post Different Types of Hiking: Which Type Are You?Continue, I will always remember the day my husband and I bought our tour packages to run the Great Wall, View Post Guide to Planning a Trip to China: The Great Wall Marathon RuncationContinue, Your email address will not be published. For one, McKittrick Creek would have been fair game for fishing, as Guadalupe Mountains National Park wasnt established until 1972 (although the Texanist has no idea if there were trout present before those early stockings). This was another reason for the plants and tree we saw. Explore this 21.1-mile out-and-back trail near Salt Flat, Texas. Its a big event, and my first visit to the event. On the return hike, I passed literally hundreds of other hikers on the trail (we visited Guadalupe Mountains during spring break in March, one of the busiest weeks to be in the park). The temperatures changed a lot during the hike, so I was glad that I had layered clothing and had taken water and a snack. All in all, this is the one hike you don't want to miss if you're visiting Guadalupe Mountains NP (sorry Guadalupe Peak!). The group convened at Van Horn, Texas, the closest town to our destination on the Texas side of the GMNP. Were on the road and in Gruene, Texas, for the annual Texas Clay Festival. The current state record, FYI, pulled from the Nueces River in 2010, stands at 8.92 pounds and 26.5 inches in length. From training resources, to select active travel destinations, I can teach you how to have a different kind of vacation, an active travel vacation! In 1878, the wildlife conservation and sporting magazine, Forest and Stream, reported that a surgeon stationed at Fort Davis, Texas during the Civil War took "Salmo fontinalis" from nearby Limpia Creek. From the trailhead, you enter McKittrick Canyon. The McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail is a short trail with dramatic views. Hope the picking up and re-throwing down of stakes went well. The Lower Laguna Madre awaits. And since one cant fish McKittrick Creek, it cant be considered an actual fishery. Hot tip: The Canyon Lake Dam tailrace, on the Guadalupe River, is a perennially popular spot. It is also a challenging and steep ascent of over 2,000 feet in elevation gain to summit the ridge and reach the campground. Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Although less than ideal, the historical accounts do present a likely and compelling scenario for the natural occurrence of this species in the state (http://www.fishesoftexas.org/specimen/FoTX%20unvouchered1). How to Hike the Permian Reef Trail | Guadalupe Mountains National Park, 16 Great Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, How to Hike to Guadalupe Peak, the "Top of Texas", How to Hike the Devil's Hall Trail | Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Parking The trail features vegetation typical of the Chihuahuan Desert - that is, until you get farther up and start to see oak, ash, and maple trees. The Grotto marks 3.4 roundtrip miles along the McKittrick Canyon Trail, but I would highly recommend tacking on another minute to take the spur trail just past the Grotto to the third and final landmark on this day hike, the Hunter Line Cabin. We had too much fun taking pictures of El Capitan rest stop so we did not have the full two hours to make Pratt Cabin, but we did have an amazing walk through a unique canyon. If you are looking to day hike McKittrick Canyon, then this is the ideal recommended itinerary! Introduced Rainbow Trout in particular have proven very troublesome for different native Cutthroat species all over the country, as their high degree of genetic similarity allows them to interbreed with Cutthroats. A highlight of the park and a must-see for nature lovers is McKittrick Canyon. The freezing temperatures kept most sane folks away so we had the canyon pretty much to ourselves. McKittrick Canyon and its entrance are about seven miles northeast of the primary Visitor Center, also off US-62/180. We'll assume you accept this policy as long as you are using this website, Guide to Day Hiking From the Trailhead to the Grotto, Gear Recs for Day Hiking McKittrick Canyon, go to dual agent breathable yet warm wool base layer. Trail Junction: Pratt Cabin is to the right and the McKittrick Canyon Trail continues to the left. Thankfully when we got to the parking, there were a couple of spaces left. Today the only member of the family Salmonidae (trout, salmon and their relatives) that occurs in Texas is the non-native Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. . the Texanist, is a staff writer. To get to the trailhead, walk through the building to the other side. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Our website uses cookies. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. The trail to the Grotto leads off to the left and heads downhill on a very rocky trail. Salt Flat Unfortunately, the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout is now rare throughout its native range (Western Native Trout Status Report). The Top 5 Best Canyons in Texas Location of the Top 5 Best Canyons in Texas #1: Santa Elena Canyon #2: McKittrick Canyon #3: Palo Duro Canyon #4: Caprock Canyon #5: Seminole Canyon Gear Recommendations for the Best Texas Canyons The Top 5 Best Canyons in Texas Here, plants and animals tolerate true desert conditions. The only self-sustaining population of rainbow trout in Texas is in McKittrick Canyon, near the New Mexico border in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where the Rare Earth Elements: A Review of Production, Processing . You can get by with a good pair of walking shoes or running shoes for this hike if you only plan to go to Pratt Cabin or the Grotto. Have a question for the Texanist? South Padre Island and the Lower Laguna Madre fly fishing report. Wallace Pratt, a petroleum geologist who was charmed by the beauty and geology of the Guadalupe, purchased land in McKittrick Canyon in the 1930's. In 1959, Pratt donated his land to the National Park Service. Then I hiked into the Canyon and climbed up to McKittrick Ridge for. The catalyst for the new research is from a paper by Gary Garrett and Gary Matlock. Because of the availability of water, the desert plants are some of the healthiest we have encountered outside a botanical garden. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Hiking the McKittrick Canyon Trail to Pratt Cabin, the Grotto, and the Notch is one of the most popular hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Beyond the Grotto, the trail gets rocky and rapidly climbs higher to the Notch, but the reward is a great view of McKittrick Canyon. As the park time had only recently change, we did happen on 5 unsuspecting deer in the creek bottom. A Look at Mckittrick's Naturalized Rainbow Trout - 2 Skiff Fly Line Management - THREE STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM! For the entire first half of the hike, I had the trail to myself, other than passing two backpackers on the trail. Voicemail messages are responded to within five business days. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. The studies are extensive, including analysis of fish surveys, water temperature and stream flow, and genetic studies. Q: Im an avid trout fisherman who was raised in Oregon, which is blessed with many cold rivers and streams that support trout. To hike to Pratt Cabin, it is a 2.4-mile hike one-way.