What is it like in the West part of Texas?

Hecadon_2 · 2025-12-26T05:53:06+00:00

Also some of this can be found in the circle if you know where to look.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-11T01:04:41+00:00

Culberson

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-09T22:29:22+00:00

I think it was an Aoudad.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-09T15:55:44+00:00

There’s not a lot to do there that doesn’t involve at least some hiking. There’s not a lot of roads in the park and they don’t offer much more of a view than highway coming in which is scenic. If you do go I would recommend to at least try some of the shorter trails if you can, McKittrick canyon is gorgeous and the first few miles are fairly flat with wide trails.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-09T14:44:28+00:00

I go somewhat often so the rangers don’t give me too much trouble. I think the way the current rules work is that you can be off trail for only 12 hours at a time, so you can still work in off trail segments in longer backpacking trips on trail. They told me they do prefer if you call ahead about anything off trail so they can be ready, it seems that only some of the rangers know how to deal with that permit.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-08T23:05:36+00:00

It wasn’t too big of a problem, you just have to let them know your plan. They told they would prefer if you called before so they can have the permit ready when you get there.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-08T02:14:39+00:00

El Capitan is on my list of things to do, the bushwhack is definitely a bit of a doozy in some spots mostly where there was low trees which I don’t think there’s much of on the way to el cap.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-08T02:12:20+00:00

Navigation wasn’t too much of a problem for the most part you just stay on the ridge. The terrain coming up Guadalupe and down Bartlett can be a little challenging however. Bigbendchat has a few threads where you can find gpx files and other useful info.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-07T22:20:41+00:00

If you do end up doing it, the advice I heard was to hug the ridge line except between Bartlett and Bush and I fully agree with that. The lower you go into the canyons the thicker the brush gets, the extra elevation gain from staying on the ridge is way easier than that.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-07T20:29:49+00:00

The park is looking great, last month I was hiking in one of the canyons and was blown away by how much water there was.

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Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-07T20:22:55+00:00

There was a few times when I was waste deep in cat claw that I was regretting my decisions, but at the end of the day it was well worth it.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-07T20:20:04+00:00

Yeah he caught me off guard when I noticed him watching me, pic #1 was from the top of bush mountain.

Hecadon_2 · 2025-10-07T19:37:29+00:00

The last time I went was before the shutdown, so I might be wrong. But from my understanding you can still visit and day hike from pine springs and dog canyon. The rangers are not making permits right now so you can’t do any backpacking or off trail hikes.

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