"The precipitous cliffs of El Capitan punctuate the southern tip of the Guadalupes and jut above the desert floor like the prow of a great ship. In 1858, a traveler, seeing El Capitan for the first time, wrote: "It seemed as if nature had saved all her ruggedness to pile up in this colossal form. . . ." Visible for many miles from both east and west, the peak has served as a landmark for travelers for unnumbered centuries. " Text Source

Rising over 4,000 feet above the salt flats below like a giant fortress guarding over the Guadalupes, El Capitan dominates the West Texas skyline. Overshadowed in height by its neighbor Guadalupe Peak, El Capitan is not overshadowed in status. Capped off with a rugged 1,000 ft. sheer limestone cliff, El Capitan is certainly the captain and signature peak of Texas mountains. El Capitan ranks as the eighth highest peak in Texas.

Click on pictures to enlarge. All photos are copyrighted by their respective photographers.

El Capitan is located in the romote and beautiful Guadalupe Mountains National Park (see the Guadalupe Peak page for more information on the park), located in West Texas just south of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The Guadalupe Mountain Range is the largest exposed ancient fossil reef in the world. Overshadowed by the other more popular national park in Texas (Big Bend), the Guadalupe Mountains have something that Big Bend doesn't have; bragging rights to the best view in Texas (Hunter Peak), and the prettiest spot in Texas (McKittrick Canyon). The view from El Capitan is just as spectacular.

CAUTION:

The Guadalupe Mountain area is one of the windiest places in the nation. Winds in excess of 100 mph have been recorded and high winds are common year round. Bring your Wal-Mart tent at your own risk.

Mountain Lions and rattlesnakes are located in this area. Read all the precautions and warnings at the ranger station. Despite their presence, I haven't seen any snakes nor lions in 7 trips to the Guadalupes other than some lion tracks in the snow. Dawn is the most likely time for a lion encounter. See this for information on mountain lion safety.

Getting There

The trailhead to the base of the peak starts at Pine Springs, the headquarters for Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pine Springs is located in west Texas on U.S. 62/180 110 miles east of El Paso and 55 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. There are no food, gas, or lodging services in Pine Springs. Don't show up with an empty tank. This is one of the most isolated parks in the lower 48.

The trailhead is about 1/4 of a mile up from the park headquarters where the road dead ends in a parking lot. The summit of El Capitan is reached by taking the Guadalupe Peak Trail 4.2 miles to within 50 feet of the summit of Guadalupe Peak, then taking an unmaintained trail down and over to the summit.

Do not attempt a bushwack from the El Capitan Trail (trail that circles around El Cap from below). There is a 50 ft. vertical cliff that blocks access where the dry wash coming down from Guadalupe Peak exits. A short rope might get you down, but going up, the limestone may not be stable enough to hold protection. The cliff is probably a 5.9 (just a guess) crack/dihedral/chimney. This cliff is located in the signature picture above on the low point between El Cap and the sub-peak on the right in the photo. Cliff at end of dry wash I looked around. This is the easiest way up.

Views of Guadalupe Peak

Very nice views of Guadalupe Peak (highest peak in Texas) can be seen from the summit of El Capitan. Dramatic cliffs over 1000 ft. drop off on the west side of the peak and can be seen from the summit as well.

See also the Guadalupe Peak page.

Red Tape, Camping, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Information on Red Tape and Camping seem to change quite frequently so I will refer you to the Guadalupe Peak page so I will only have to maintain one section for all of the peaks in the Guadalupes.

Guadalupe Peak Page

When To Climb

The most ideal time to hike or climb in the Guadalupes is in the winter months. Be prepared for any sort of weather. It can be cold with extremely high winds, or it may be very pleasant. Snow is possible in the winter but infrequent. Get a pre-dawn start in the warmer months and beware of rattlesnakes and Mountain Lions. See this for information on mountain lion safety.

Caution: There are no water sources in the back country. Take plenty of water in the summer months. A gallon of water per person per day is recommended. Temperatures in the summer can be very hot and oppressive. Hiking up one of the steep, rocky trails in the heat of the day is not recommended.

Mountain Conditions

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