Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Watching the sunrise is something I have come to enjoy. I get to watch it in my home state of Florida rise over the ocean. However, there is something different about the sunrise over the mountains and Guadalupe Mountain National Park is no exception. Arriving early enough to also see the moon set behind the distant mountains, I watched the first light of the day cast its warmth on the El Capitan mountain face.

After a stop at the visitor center to make sure I had my time zone right, I made my way to the McKittrick Canyon trailhead. It was an extremely windy day, as I heard was common for this region. Along the trail I heard gusts from what seemed to be a mile away and watched the shrubs and trees shake as the wind rushed closer and closer until I was then shaking in the wind, trying to keep my balance and tripod steady. These gusts really brought the landscape to life and made it feel as if the mountains and canyon were breathing.

This trail has multiple river crossings, each one being its own little challenge and a fun obstacle to overcome during the hike. The sight and sound of moving water while in the desert provides a nice bit of comfort from the dry air. I eventually made it to an old home that is protected by the park service and was able to tour the inside. This little sanctuary provided a much-needed shelter and rest stop in an incredibly beautiful but remote location. Though the trail kept going much longer into the canyon, I decided to return to my car and save the rest of this trail for another time.