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All the United States Texas Culberson County McKittrick Canyon
AO Edited

McKittrick Canyon

Steep canyon walls hide a forested oasis in the West Texas desert.

Culberson County, Texas

Added By
Thomas Harper
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Some Fall Color in McKittrick Canyon   Fredlyfish4 on Wikipedia
Some Fall Color in McKittrick Canyon   Thomas Harper
Creek in McKittrick Canyon   Thomas Harper
  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
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In autumn, the west Texas desert hides an oasis of color in McKittrick Canyon, an oddly lush hidden natural garden that grows in the shadow of steep canyon walls.

Nestled in the Guadalupe Mountains and described as the "prettiest spot in Texas," autumn comes to McKittrick Canyon in late October and early November. A trail leads from the McKittrick Canyon Visitors Center to the Pratt Cabin, and from there to the Grotto, a small cave with some stalagtites and stalagmites. Along the trail, the plants transition from the normal Chihuahuan Desert flora of yucca and prickly pears, to a wide variety of trees, including ponderosa pine, velvet ash, big tooth maple, and the Texas mandrone, along with a wide variety of wildflowers. There is even a small stream in the heart of the canyon, truly making this an oasis. Hikers may also want to keep on the steepening trail past Hunter Cabin to The Notch on McKittrick Ridge.

Archaeological finds have shown that the canyon was inhabited over 12,000 years ago. Mescalero Apache lived here until they were forced out by the U.S. Cavalry by the late 1800s. Some farming and ranching was done here, but in 1921 a geologist named William Pratt began buying the land. He gifted over 5,600 acres in 1957 to become part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, ensuring that the prettiest spot in Texas is available for future generations.

Today the archaeological finds have also earned McKittrick Canyon entry into the National Register of Historic Places, so now, neither the desert heat, nor human intervention can destroy this lovely natural wonder.

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Natural Wonders Nature Oasis

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Follow the trail to Pratt Cabin and beyond to the Grotto. A round trip to the Grotto and back is about 7 miles.

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Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

EricGrundhauser, WhiskeyBristles

  • EricGrundhauser
  • WhiskeyBristles

Published

August 31, 2015

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKittrick_Canyon
McKittrick Canyon
McKittrick Canyon
Culberson County, Texas, 79847
United States
31.977364, -104.752273
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Nearby Places

Guadalupe Peak

Culberson County, Texas

miles away

Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad, New Mexico

miles away

Lechuguilla Cave

Carlsbad, New Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Culberson County

Culberson County

Texas

Places 2

Nearby Places

Guadalupe Peak

Culberson County, Texas

miles away

Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad, New Mexico

miles away

Lechuguilla Cave

Carlsbad, New Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Culberson County

Culberson County

Texas

Places 2

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