Pine Springs to McKittrick Canyon

The route to the summit of El Capitan starts from the Guadalupe Peak trail some 300ft below the summit where you can first see the full vista of El Capitan stretching out before you. There is no trail to the peak, so you will have to navigate and find the best route possible. There are four prominent ridges leading down to the "bowl" of El Capitan before you have to ascend again to the peak. I...

The Hike This nearly 8.2-mile out-and-back hike starts almost a mile above sea level and has more than 2,800 feet of elevation gain. The beginning 1.5 miles include a lot of switchbacks, and hikers quickly gain elevation. The second part of the trail up the North-facing slope is shady as it goes through Pinion Pine, South-Western White Pine, and Douglas fir trees.  Keep going for amazing view...

From Pine Springs Trailhead follow Tejas Trail (3.7 miles), then take the Bowl Trail counter-clockwise (.9) until the Hunter Mountain spur trail (.1 each way). Then it's back on the Bowl Trail until you reach the start of the Bear Canyon Trail (.5). Descend along switchbacks (1.8 miles) and take a right onto the Frijole Trail that loops you back to the Tejas trail and where you started (1.5 mil...

Start your hike from the campground area. There are several trailheads there. Hike for about a mile through some forested and cacti covered area with great views of the river valley and the Permian reef.  After the first mile the trail descents into a wash and you can follow the wash doing some boulder hoping until I reached the end of the trail with the rock staircase and slot canyon. The roc...

Park at the visitor center and start to walk the trail located at the north end of the visitor center. The trail is easy to walk and has very good views of the Park. There are a great variety of wildflowers along the trail during the summer. At the end of the trail you can explore the ruins of the Pinery Butterfield Stage stop. This trail is an easy trail suitable for a family outing.

Parked at the trail head of Frijoles Ranch. Started my hike on the paved trail to Manzanita springs. After that the trail winds trough desert landscape with numerous desert wildflowers in the early fall, The trail ends up at the base of the mountains where I saw the springs. Returned to the parking area on the other loop of the trail.