Whether you stop at the cabin or at the grotto, it's all beautiful. On the saltwater front, redfish and speckled trout rule, along with, of course, your larger varieties of game fish. The information center at the trailhead was pretty luxurious and if you were to go directly to the canyon trailhead, theres plenty of information to make your hike. Manage My Subscriptions, archive McKittrick Canyon surprised me, and it continues to be one of the most unique spots I have hiked in the state of Texas! I did not know trout could be native to Texas, that is so cool. Please exit McKittrick Canyon before the posted closing time. The path is gravel and wide. This 3.4 miles one way and back covers multiple landmarks, including the Pratt Cabin, the Grotto, and the Hunter Line Cabin. McKittrick Canyon Trail Hiking Trail, Pine Springs, Texas McKittrick Canyon Trail Intermediate/Difficult 4.5 (12) Areas TX West Texas Guadalupe Mountains National Park Plan with onX Backcountry " A long and semi-technical canyon ascent that has some of the best views in west Texas! Maybe someday spring-fed Texas streams could once again support our native trout and provide it safe haven for the future. Green trout on Ray Roberts! Yes, we liked this one too (even more than the McKittrick Canyon Trail). South Padre Island and the Lower Laguna Madre fly fishing report. Please note that McKittrick, Smith, Devil's Hall are near peak and Dog Canyon is just past peak. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. As the park time had only recently change, we did happen on 5 unsuspecting deer in the creek bottom. We hiked to Pratt Cabin with is 2.4 miles and stopped for a snack. On the way back to the Contact Station we encountered a park volunteer who shared stories of the area with us. If you are part of a large group, be prepared to wait awhile. The canyon is one of the few spots within hundreds of miles with maple trees, so at this time of year the scenery is spectacular. Time to mix a little art in with the fly fishing. Think TPWD might stock some stripers in there to keep them trouts from taking over ? Hike the McKittrick Trail to Pratt Cabin, a distance of 4.8 miles, crossing the stream twice. Bucket list McKittrick in Fall- accomplished. From the Grotto, retrace your steps back to the McKittrick Canyon Trail and turn left to continue to the Notch. 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There was a major flood in recent years that sent a lot of water down the canyon creek, moving boulders and reshaping the terrain. Again, welcome to the greatest state in the union. This year, TPWD is planning to release some 334,000 trout at locations around the state, a number of whichBlue Hole Park, Shirley McDonald Park, Kingfisher Pondare situated right in your new backyard. In 1991 a research paper was published in the Texas Journal of Science by two Texas Parks and Wildlife Researchers, Gary P. Garret and Gary C. Matlock. It is also a challenging and steep ascent of over 2,000 feet in elevation gain to summit the ridge and reach the campground. Dont underestimate this part of the hikeit is challenging. It's cable reimagined No DVR. In fact, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is part of the same mountain chain that houses the other worldly depths of Carlsbad Caverns! If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our. Beyond Pratt Cabin, the trail narrows, the gravel disappears, and now you are walking on a dirt singletrack trail. Somehow, though manmade, this cabin blends seamlessly into its environment, and is breathtaking in its humbleness. I am a hiker, backpacker, camper, state highpointer, long distance runner, cyclist, kayaker, tower runner, and avid pursuer of new destinations that allow me to interact with them in an active way! We realized that we would not be able to get to the Notch due to time constraints and turned back. Start the hike early, ideally by 8 am (but even better is early). Working with other conservation organizations and Guadalupe National Park staff, they have spent the past few years studying the environment of McKittrick Creek and its suitability for reintroducing Rio Grande Cutthroats. Its almost easier to think New Mexico, than to believe something as beautiful and impressive as El Capitan is on the Texas side of an invisible line. Imagine, however, if it turned out that none of that was true. There were beautiful views all along the way, and pretty places to stop and rest. Devils Hall, which is in Pine Springs, is shorter and more fun than the McKittrick Canyon Trail, and it leads to a cool looking slot canyon. Each year, the good folks at TPWD stock hundreds of fishing spots around the state with hundreds of thousands of ready-to-catch rainbow trout. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 29 min to complete. As noted, the hike is really family friendly and very easy all the way past Pratt Cabin to the Grotto and Hunter Line Shack. For mountain hiking that traverses desert floors to forested peaks, look no further than, The McKittrick Canyon Trail is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Which is why, says Steve Magnelia, Parks and Wildlife stocks lakes and neighborhood ponds with rainbow trout every winter. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. (Texass official state fish, by the way, is the Guadalupe bass.). We started off at the bottom all buttoned up in our winter coats, shivering in the cold. and cookie statement. It is short around a mile, but is interesting the entire time it was our favorite hike! As I met the participants, including personnel from TPWDs San Angelo, Texas, fisheries office, I began to be aware that none of us had been to McKittrick Canyon with the exception of Dr. Gary Garrett. A WIDE PRICE RANGE: The original Rounder at $129. It can be done faster (we reached the summit in 2 hours) or longer. Follow the McKittrick Canyon Trail as it drops down into the canyon, crisscrossing a wash until it reaches a stream gurgling over limestone boulders. We all had a great time at the entrance sign. Water and snacks. As the trail continues down northeast slope you will probably recognize that less sun exposure makes this side a little more lush. Beyond the Grotto, the hike gets much steeper to the Notch, though we didn't think the elevation gain was what made this section hard, it was the overgrown desert shrubs and vegetation which at times gave us cuts on our arms and legs. The Rio Bonito is a tributary of the Pecos River and is known to have contained Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout at that time (Behnke, R.J. 1979. In 2.5 miles, reach the Pratt Homestead (2), a stone hut where geologist Wallace Pratt lived until 1957. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Big Bend National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. Required fields are marked *. If you have any questions about hiking the McKittrick Canyon Trail to the Notch, let us know in the comment section below. This unassuming brook is home to the only self-sustaining population of trout in Texas, a remarkable remnant of a rainbow trout stocking program from way back in the early part of the last century. I meet Tuesday with TPWD's Western Region Inland Fisheries Director, their Habitat Restoration Chief, and the fisheries biologist who wrote the original article about Rio Grande Cutthroats in Texas to map out our initial field trip. Visitors must be out of the area before the gate closure time. Trail Junction: Pratt Cabin is to the right and the McKittrick Canyon Trail continues to the left. This is the steepest, narrowest, and rockiest part of the trail. The trailhead is located in the McKittrick area of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Mountains in Texas: Are They Fact or Fiction? Between []. Mixed shade and sun. From Pratt Cabin, it is just under a 1.5 mile walk to get to the next optional (but worthwhile!) document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. There are 8 primitive campsites at the McKittrick Ridge Campground. Saw many families with young children enjoying the shallow stream crossings. "The Notch" is 9.8 miles round trip from the McKittrick Trailhead. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It is apparent here that McKittrick Canyon hosts a rich environment, bordered by increasingly striking mountain peaks on the horizon. If you go there, consider staying at the Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn. Three trails start right at this point. Se puede acampar? listed S. spilurus as having a range that included Texas. He backpacked in and got some beautiful photos of the trout in McKittrick Creek. Asterisk number one: There is one place in Texas where trout do thrive, but it is a creek, not a river. Step into the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and you are stepping into Texas mountain time zone. It was spectacular! We paid our entrance fee at the visitor center and then drove to the canyon. Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. I love seeing those trout. We (two couples ages 45-60) hiked the McKittrick Canyon trail to the Grotto (approx. So as not to hijack another thread on this Forum, I thought I'd move this over to a new thread. Wild trout in Texas who would have thought? Even though the trail is ranked as easy to moderate, that depends on a few personal variables. We even saw two deer near the cabin. Part of the Guadalupe mountains national park in Texas. The canyon features some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rock in North America, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. If you are lucky enough, View Post Complete Guide to the Humphreys Peak Hike: Highest Point in ArizonaContinue, There is a common misconception floating around out there that the state of Texas is all just flat and, View Post The Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend: Hiking to the Top of a National ParkContinue, What makes hiking so enjoyable, is that no matter the person, there are all different types of hiking, so, View Post Different Types of Hiking: Which Type Are You?Continue, I will always remember the day my husband and I bought our tour packages to run the Great Wall, View Post Guide to Planning a Trip to China: The Great Wall Marathon RuncationContinue, Your email address will not be published. These trout, stocked by some unknown landowner around a century ago, have thrived in this environment ever since their introduction, further supporting the idea that a native trout once occupied these waters, and proving without a doubt its possibility. The trail is a moderate .9 mile round trip and takes less than one hour to complete. You have the option to go farther or turn around and hike back to the parking lot. As for the hike itself, it was very flat and easy. To hike the entire McKittrick Canyon Trail, most would consider a multi day, overnight backpacking trip. The Notch Out-and-Back hike takes hikers through McKittrick Canyon, past a couple cabins to some pretty stunning views of the canyon. Thankfully when we got to the parking, there were a couple of spaces left. Yet Texas fly fishermen find themselves in a bit of a predicament when it comes to this addictive passion; there is no trout species native to Texas. There are even tales of some stocked trout surviving well into spring and even through the summer on that stretch of the Guadalupe, which is likely the origin of the story that brought you to the Texanist in the first place. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The current state record, FYI, pulled from the Nueces River in 2010, stands at 8.92 pounds and 26.5 inches in length. The Permian Reef Trail is slightly shorter than hiking to the Notch, but there is 1,000 feet more elevation gain, so overall it is a tougher hike. Start the hike early, ideally by 8 am (but even better is early). Per the NPS web site (which I apparently can't link to in this answer but should be findable with a quick search), all trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park are currently open, but if you are planning a trip you should probably visit the site to confirm. The views all along the trail were beautiful, not to be missed. Fairly easy 4.8mi RT hike (but it is mostly walking on gravel and river rocks, vs packed trail). The detour to the Grotto is marked with a metal trail sign. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. It is named for Captain Felix McKittrick, who acquired the land for ranching in 1869. Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. 12The only native trout that we're aware of are maybe some Rio Grande cutthroat trout that were in the McKittrick Canyon area of the Guadalupe Mountains. Be sure to bring lots of water, a snack (or two), wear decent shoes and use sunscreen. Your email address will not be published. Guadalupe Mountains National Park epitomizes the diversity of this region: it has mountains, forests, deserts, and canyons, all intricately and seamlessly blended together! The trail becomes quite steep near the end, so ending your trek in McKittrick Canyon is never a bad idea. In its entirety, McKittrick Canyon Trail runs a total of approximately 11.1 miles from the trailhead at the McKittrick Canyon Visitor's Center (31.977596, -104.752145) to the point where it intersects Tejas Trail (31.977596, -104.752145), which is an additional 8 mile hike to park headquarters at Pine Springs Visitor's Center. Im looking forward to learning much about the incredible state of Texas! This 3,000 ft. deep canyon hides a riparian oasis below its big walls supporting some wildlife found in no other place on earth. A drawing of the fish was accompanied by the description: "yellowish brown above, spotted with black; a red band on each side of the chin." By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Knapp (1953. Towering ponderosas began to dot the landscape. Beautiful views, colors and interest along the way. We were surprised there were not more hikers but we did go in the middle of the week. West Texas may not inspire the same type of awe as the Teton mountains, or the cultural hotbed of, View Post Best Small Towns in Texas: Road Tripping Through West TexasContinue, There are two ways to develop a foolproof hiking checklist: from a series of carefully planned and successfully executed, View Post The Only Hiking Checklist You Will Ever Need: The 10 Essentials PlusContinue, Arizona, portrayed across Instagramthrough its painted deserts, red rocks, diverging canyons, and vast expanses. Cellular Service. For a hike this long, pack a picnic lunch. Rainbow trout is an anadromous, cool- to cold-water fish species. RVers will enter the park via NM-137. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Today, there is a growing belief that they are actually native to Texas. I met yesterday with the Board of Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited and have their support for the project. 6 miles round trip). It takes you through the foothills with many informational signs about various vegetation you see. The six hiked into McKittrick Canyon with electrofishing equipment and collected 26 trout that may possess genetic remnants of Texas' only native trout population Pat Hutson, trout program leader, said historical records of the region . To get to the trailhead, walk through the building to the other side. Make sure to go past the Notch another 300 yards or so for even more sweeping views. It is elusive, wild, and free. David Courtney, a.k.a. McKittrick Canyon and its entrance are about seven miles northeast of the primary Visitor Center, also off US-62/180. Im Kristen, the author and active traveler behind Yonderlust Ramblings! The Next Frontier of Science is in your Backyard (with you and your smartphone), Biotechnologies for Conservation & Their Intended Consequences, History of UT Herpetology, Part 3: Eric Pianka, the "Lizard Man". . Monograph of the native trouts of the genus Salmo of western North America. Most of the elevation on the McKittrick Canyon Trail comes immediately after the Grotto and adjacent Hunter Line Cabin spur trail.