McKittrick Canyon
Encyclopedia
McKittrick Canyon is a scenic canyon within the Guadalupe Mountains
of West Texas
. The steep towering walls of McKittrick Canyon protect a rich riparian oasis in the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert
.
McKittrick Canyon is part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park
but is separated from the main park area and managed as a "day-use only" area with limited visitation hours. Access to McKittrick Canyon is via a 4.2-mile (6.8-km) gated side road that leads to the mouth of McKittrick Canyon from U.S. Route 62/180
. Here the National Park Service
maintains a parking area, restroom facilities, and visitor center, which is staffed most of the year by volunteers.
with various species of yucca
, agave
and cacti
, such as Spanish Dagger (Yucca
faxoniana), Sotol (Dasylirion
leiophyllum), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla), Century Plants (Agave americana), Prickly Pear (Opuntia
spp.) and Claret Cup Cacti (Echinocereus triglochidiatus
). Scattered among these desert plants are a few hardy pines, juniper, and the occasional Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis
), an unusual tree with red-colored bark that tends to curl-up and peel off each year.
As one ascends into the relatively cool and more sheltered environment farther up the canyon, a flowing steam of clear water appears and riparian vegetation becomes more abundant, including deciduous trees such as oak, ash, and Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum). During the Fall, McKittrick Canyon comes alive with color from the turning foliage of maple and hardwood trees. The bright colors stand in stark contrast to the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert
.
After a distance of 2.4 miles (3.9 km) the path reaches a cabin that was built by Wallace Everette Pratt
(1885-1981), a petroleum geologist who once owned most of McKittrick Canyon. In 1959, Pratt donated 4988 acres (2,018.6 ha) of his ranch to the National Park Service and seven years later, on 15 October 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson
signed the act establishing Guadalupe Mountains National Park. On 30 September 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park was dedicated and formally opened to the public.
Farther up the canyon, the path becomes quite steep as it begins to follow a series of switchbacks, climbing nearly 2000 feet (609.6 m) over the next 2 miles (3.2 km), eventually reaching "The Notch" at an altitude of around 7200 feet (2,194.6 m). From this high point one can view McKittrick Canyon and the distant desert to the east and South McKittrick Canyon to the west.
A portion of the canyon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
for its archeological importance on September 26, 1991.
Guadalupe Mountains
The Guadalupe Mountains are a mountain range located in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The range includes the highest summit in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, , and the "signature peak" of West Texas, El Capitan, both located within Guadalupe Mountains National Park, as well as Carlsbad Caverns...
of West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
. The steep towering walls of McKittrick Canyon protect a rich riparian oasis in the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
.
McKittrick Canyon is part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at in elevation. It also contains El Capitan, long used as a landmark by people traveling along the old route later followed by the Butterfield Overland...
but is separated from the main park area and managed as a "day-use only" area with limited visitation hours. Access to McKittrick Canyon is via a 4.2-mile (6.8-km) gated side road that leads to the mouth of McKittrick Canyon from U.S. Route 62/180
U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 62 runs from the US-Mexico border at El Paso, Texas to Niagara Falls, New York, near the United States-Canada border. It is the only east-west US Route that connects Mexico and Canada.Parts of U.S...
. Here the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
maintains a parking area, restroom facilities, and visitor center, which is staffed most of the year by volunteers.
McKittrick Canyon Trail
McKittrick Canyon Trail begins at the visitor center and initially follows a dry stream, crossing the stream bed several times as it works its way up the canyon. At first the vegetation is more typical of the Chihuahuan DesertChihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
with various species of yucca
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
, agave
Agave
Agave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies ; they are commonly known as the century plant....
and cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
, such as Spanish Dagger (Yucca
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
faxoniana), Sotol (Dasylirion
Dasylirion
Dasylirion is a genus of 17 species of flowering plants, all native to Mexico, with three species also extending into the southwestern United States...
leiophyllum), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla), Century Plants (Agave americana), Prickly Pear (Opuntia
Opuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
spp.) and Claret Cup Cacti (Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus known by several common names, including Kingcup cactus, Claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky...
). Scattered among these desert plants are a few hardy pines, juniper, and the occasional Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis, commonly known as the Texas Madrone or Texas Madroño, is a species of flowering plant in the heather family that is native to the southwestern United States , south through most of Mexico and Central America to Nicaragua...
), an unusual tree with red-colored bark that tends to curl-up and peel off each year.
As one ascends into the relatively cool and more sheltered environment farther up the canyon, a flowing steam of clear water appears and riparian vegetation becomes more abundant, including deciduous trees such as oak, ash, and Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum). During the Fall, McKittrick Canyon comes alive with color from the turning foliage of maple and hardwood trees. The bright colors stand in stark contrast to the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
.
After a distance of 2.4 miles (3.9 km) the path reaches a cabin that was built by Wallace Everette Pratt
Wallace Pratt
Wallace E. Pratt was a pioneer American petroleum geologist.Born in Phillipsburg, Kansas, March 15, 1885, Pratt began his career in geology as an assistant with the Kansas Geological Survey shortly after he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1907 with a bachelor's degree.From 1909 to 1916,...
(1885-1981), a petroleum geologist who once owned most of McKittrick Canyon. In 1959, Pratt donated 4988 acres (2,018.6 ha) of his ranch to the National Park Service and seven years later, on 15 October 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
signed the act establishing Guadalupe Mountains National Park. On 30 September 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park was dedicated and formally opened to the public.
Farther up the canyon, the path becomes quite steep as it begins to follow a series of switchbacks, climbing nearly 2000 feet (609.6 m) over the next 2 miles (3.2 km), eventually reaching "The Notch" at an altitude of around 7200 feet (2,194.6 m). From this high point one can view McKittrick Canyon and the distant desert to the east and South McKittrick Canyon to the west.
A portion of the canyon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its archeological importance on September 26, 1991.
See also
- Carlsbad CavernsCarlsbad Caverns National ParkCarlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns...
- Delaware BasinDelaware BasinThe Delaware Basin in West Texas and southern New Mexico is famous for holding large oil fields and for exposing a fossilized reef. Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park protect part of the basin...
- El Capitan (Texas)El Capitan (Texas)El Capitan is a peak in Culberson County, Texas, USA, within Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It is the eighth-highest peak in Texas, and rises abruptly out of the Chihuahuan Desert floor; it is considered the "signature peak" of West Texas....
- Guadalupe PeakGuadalupe PeakGuadalupe Peak is the highest natural point in Texas, with an elevation of . It is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and is part of the Guadalupe Mountains range in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The mountain is about east of El Paso and about southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico...
- Pecos RiverPecos RiverThe headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
- Trans-PecosTrans-PecosThe term Trans-Pecos, as originally defined in 1887 by the Texas geologist Robert T. Hill, refers to the portion of Texas that lies west of the Pecos River. The term is considered synonymous with "Far West Texas", a subdivision of West Texas...
- Van Horn, TexasVan Horn, TexasVan Horn is a town in and the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Horn is located at ....
- West TexasWest TexasWest Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....