Backcountry Camping

You are allowed to camp at ten designated backcountry campgrounds for free

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Backcountry Camping Details

You are allowed to camp in the backcountry for free. Permits are available (for free) at the park's visitor center. Backcountry camping is limited to ten designated backcountry campgrounds: Guadalupe Peak, Pine Top, Tejas, Bush Mountain, Mescalero, McKittrick Ridge, Blue Ridge, Marcus, Wilderness Ridge and Shumard. Guadalupe Peak campground is located along the Guadalupe Peak Trail, three miles from the Pine Springs campground trailhead and one mile from the summit of the peak. The site is relatively exposed with minimal tree cover, so remember to stake out your tent and weigh down any gear with rocks. There are five sites here. Pine Top campground is located at the intersection of the Bowl Trail, Tejas Trail and Bush Mountain trail. It is just a few miles from the top of the bowl, 4.2 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead and 6.2 miles from the Dog Canyon trailhead. This campground has some tree cover, but at this high elevation wind and lightening are still a concern. There are eight sites here. Tejas campground is located along the Tejas Trail roughly equidistant between the two trailheads-- five and a half miles from Pine Springs trailhead and 6.2 miles from Dog Canyon trailhead. There are five sites here, partially protected from wind by a stand of tall trees. Bush Mountain campground is located along the Bush Mountain trail, 6.2 miles from the Pine Springs trailhead via the Tejas Trail and the Bush Mountain Trail. The campground has five sites, which have good wind protection and awesome views of sunrise and sunset. However the hike to the campsite over the ridgeline can be sketchy when the winds are fierce. The Mescalero campground is very centrally located-- Tejas Trail, McKittrick Canyon Trail, Blue Ridge Trail and Bush Mountain Trail are all within a few miles. This campground is also at a lower elevation, in a stand of ponderosa pine trees, so you'll be well protected from the elements. The McKittrick Ridge campground is located above McKittrick Canoyn, along the McKittrick Canyon Trail. Depending on how strenuous of a hike you are looking for, you can either start from the McKittrick Canyon trailhead at the mouth of the canyon and climb up to the canyon ridge, or start from the Dog Canyon trailhead and take the mellower journey along the Tejas Trail to the McKittric Ridge trail. The distance to the campground from both trailheads is around seven and a half miles. There are eight sites. For a more remote and private camping experience, the Blue Ridge campground offers five sites nestled in a pine and fir forest. The campground is located along the Blue Ridge Trail, 7.8-miles from the Pine Springs trailhead via the Tejas Trail and Blue Ridge Trail, and 8.9 miles from Pine Springs Trailhead via Tejas Trail and Bush Mountain Trail. Marcus campground is located 3.7-miles from Dog Canyon trailhead, on the far side of Manzanita Ridge. There are five sites scattered here between juniper and pinion pine. The Wilderness Ridge campground is located in the western edge of the park, a few miles along the top of Wilderness Ridge, roughly four and a half miles from the McKittrick Canyon trailhead via the Permian Reef Geology Trail. There are five sites. The Shumard campground is located on the El Capitan Trail, a mile or so east of Williams Ranch. The campground is nine and a half miles from Pine Springs trailhead, more than most other campgrounds in the park, but the journey there is mellower, with less climbing. There are five sites here in this open desert area. Because this campground is more exposed than some of the higher campgrounds, you should make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. Since these sites are all backcountry, there are no facilities. Bring plenty of water with you.

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