Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Permit Information

NPS Special Use Permit required. $150 non refundable application fee. Submit at least 4 weeks in advance. Highest point in Texas (Guadalupe Peak). Contact gumo_permits@nps.gov or 915 828 3251.

Planning Your Day at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

One-Spot Day

Guadalupe Mountains has 2 practical ceremony zones: El Capitan Base (the iconic 8,085 ft limestone cliff visible from Highway 62/180, accessed by a short walk from the Pine Springs Visitor Center) and McKittrick Canyon (the famous fall foliage canyon, 4.8 miles roundtrip to the Pratt Cabin ceremony area). Pick one, the two are 25 miles apart and McKittrick has a strict 8am to 4:30pm gate (6pm in summer) which limits day length. The park is rugged, remote, and rarely crowded; nearest services are in White's City NM (35 miles) or Carlsbad NM (55 miles). Guadalupe Peak Trail (8.4 mi RT, 3,000 ft gain to the highest point in Texas) is a true peak summit ceremony only for fit couples with a small fit guest list willing to commit a full day.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

All ceremony sites take an NPS Special Use Permit, $150 non refundable application fee, 4 week minimum lead time. 20 person park wide cap. Practical caps tighter: El Capitan Base 12 (short walk and small staging area), McKittrick Canyon 10 (long hike filters out larger groups), Pratt Cabin area 10 (must be carried in on foot). Contact gumo_permits@nps.gov or 915 828 3251. McKittrick Canyon gate hours are non negotiable; plan ceremony for 9am or earlier and have everyone out by 4pm. Permit applications during October fall color peak fill 6 to 12 months out. No installations, no amplified sound, no fire, no thrown items.

A Note on Light

Guadalupe sits in the Chihuahuan Desert at the south end of the Rocky Mountain rain shadow, which means clear skies most of the year and intense direct light midday. El Capitan faces east, so first light hits the limestone face for the most dramatic backdrop (plan ceremony 30 minutes before sunrise to land vows in peak warm light); golden hour evening light backlights the cliff with the desert glowing. McKittrick Canyon runs east to west and is in shade by 3pm in fall; plan ceremony for late morning to catch the bigtooth maples in direct light. October fall color peaks the second to third week (verify with the park before booking). Spring (March to May) brings desert wildflowers and cooler temperatures; September and November are workable shoulder months. Avoid June through August: temperatures regularly hit 100°F and afternoon thunderstorms develop fast. Bortle 2 dark skies make this one of the best Milky Way portrait sites in Texas.

Ceremony Spots at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

• El Capitan Base — Ceremony at the base of the 8,085 foot El Capitan limestone cliff with Chihuahuan Desert stretching to the horizon
• McKittrick Canyon — Ceremony in a lush canyon oasis with fall foliage, a desert stream, and towering canyon walls