- Dog Canyon is a 70-mile (113 km) drive from the nearest town of Carlsbad, New Mexico and is 110 miles (177 km) from the Pine Spring Visitor Center & Campground (a 2 hour drive time).
- Before booking a reservation: It is your responsibility to review all (Site Details, Allowable Equipment, Allowable Vehicle/Driveway and Need to Know) for the individual campsite. Failing to do so may result in being prohibited from occupying the site upon your arrival. Refunds are not provided by the park.
- Dog Canyon Campground lies in the secluded, forested canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park at an elevation of 6,300 feet (1920 m). It is located at the end of NM Hwy. 137 (Queen Highway).
- This quiet location is great for relaxing, wildlife watching and hiking.
- The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November.
Facilities
- The campground features 13 sites total with 9 tent, 4 RV sites and 1 group site available by reservation.
- Campsite occupancy is limited to 6 persons or 2 tents, per site. The group site allows 10 -20 persons.
- No open fires (this includes portable propane fire rings and charcoal) are permitted anywhere in the park. Only cooking stoves or lanterns using containerized fuel are permitted.
- Tent sites are hike-in only (61 to 178 feet/19 to 54 m from parking) and cannot accommodate RV parking. Each site offers a tent pad and picnic table.
- RV sites are gravel with picnic tables.
- No shower facilities, hookups or dump stations.
- Dog Canyon is remote. Fuel your vehicle and purchase supplies before heading to the park.
Natural Features
- The Dog Canyon Campground is in an area with wooded drainages, meadows, and grassy hillsides and sparsely vegetated outcrops. Large alligator junipers, oaks, maples, madrones, piñon and ponderosa pine are in and near the campground. Shrubs include ceanothus, sumacs, mahonia, and mountain mahogany. Desert-adapted plants include a variety of prickly pear cactus, agave, and chollas. Western scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, and a variety of hummingbirds frequent the area. Mule deer are commonly seen.
- Algerita ridge casts morning shade, and cool mountain air settles in the canyon bottom nightly. Daytime highs are similar to the Pine Springs area, but nighttime lows can be much cooler. Views of the night sky are pristine.
- During the Permian Period, shallow marine water that was behind the Capitan Reef, created a series of layers of limestone and sandstone. Faulting and subsequent erosion created the canyon. Nearby topographic features include Lost Peak, Blue Ridge, West Dog Canyon, and the Brokeoff and Cutoff Mountains.
Recreation
- Trails from Dog Canyon offer good access, with relatively easy grades, to the high country of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
- The hike to Lost Peak is 6.4 miles (10.3 km) round-trip, is considered strenuos and has 1500’ (457 m) elevation gain.
- The hike to Marcus Overlook is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) round-trip, is considered moderate with an 800' (244 km) elevation gain.
- The Indian Meadow Nature Trail near the campground is 0.6 miles (1 km) and winds around a grassy area surrounded by a mix of broadleaved evergreens, deciduous trees and pines.
Recreation Sites
- Tent Only Nonelectric
- Rv Nonelectric
- Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- Overnight
Activities
- Camping
- Birding
- Hiking
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Star Gazing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Wilderness
- Backpacking
- Day Use Area
Amenities
- Accessible Campsites
- Accessible Flush Toilets
- Accessible Parking
- Drinking Water
- Hitching Racks
- Horse Corrals
- Host
- Interpretive Trails
- Pets Allowed
- Picnic Area
- Picnic Tables
- RV Parking
- Ranger Station
- Self Pay Station
- Tent Pads
- Trailheads
- Utility Sinks
- Water Troughs
Nearby Attractions
Carlsbad Caverns National Park: In addition to a variety of cave tours, the national park also offers hiking trails and a scenic drive. Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon, part of Carlsbad Caverns are nearer attractions for day use activities. Birding is excellent at Rattlesnake Springs.
Lincoln National Forest: The Guadalupe District of the Lincoln National Forest is located just over the state line, north of the national park. Road access is through New Mexico, north of White’s City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national park’s Dog Canyon). The forest provides for various camping, hiking, caving, hunting, and picnicking opportunities. Sitting Bull Falls is a nice waterfall and picnic area in the Lincoln National Forest. Five Point Vista is a glorious ridge road ride of the area, closer to Dog Canyon.
Fort Davis National Historic Site and State Park: Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. This is located about 2.5 hours south of the park. A state park is located nearby with camping and a scenic drive. Also located in Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory with several programs available.
White Sands National Park: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site: Hueco Tanks State Park is located on the east side of El Paso, about an hour and a half from the Guadalupes. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery.
Getting Here
From Carlsbad NM to the Dog Canyon area of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, take US Hwy 285 north to NM Hwy 137 and turn south. Travel (62 miles/100 km) to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Dog Canyon entrance.
From the Pine Springs Visitor Center to Dog Canyon, take US Hwy 62/180 east. Once you enter New Mexico, travel 25 miles (40 km) and turn left onto County Road 408 (Dark Canyon road). Travel approximately 23 miles (27 km) to the intersection with NM Hwy 137/Queen Hwy, turn left/south. Follow Queen Hwy 25 miles (40 km) to the Dog Canyon entrance. The drive time between Dog Canyon Campground and Pine Springs Campground is 2 hours.
Use extreme caution! This is open rangeland, cattle are frequently on the roadway.
Need to Know
Entrance Fee. A separate park entrance fee of $10 per person (16 and older) is required for all visitors not covered by an Interagency annual or lifetime pass (check your pass for details). Purchase your pass in advance or upon arrival at the park during Operating Hours.
No open fires (this includes charcoal) are permitted anywhere in the park. Only stoves or lanterns using containerized fuel is permitted.
The park is remote. Please fuel your vehicle and purchase supplies before heading to the park.
The Dog Canyon ranger station is staffed intermittently. It is best to download trail maps and information from the park’s website or download the NPS App before leaving home.
Quiet hours. Quiet hours are from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time. No generators, during quiet hours.
Pets. Pets are permitted in the campground and along the park road. Leashes 6 ft. in length are required. Pets may not be left unattended or inside vehicles. Pets causing a disturbance may be asked to leave, no refunds of fees. All trails are closed to pets.
Tent campsites are for tent campers only. If you plan to sleep in a vehicle, you must reserve an RV campsite. Camp within designated sites, place tent/s on provided tent pad only. Maximum of two tents per site.
Do not tie down gear. The use of weight-bearing hammocks, slacklines, tarps or similar devices tied to natural and/or manmade features is prohibited.
Group sites. The Group Sites are for tents only, RVs are prohibited.
Cell phone service is NOT available. Free Wi-Fi may be available at the Dog Canyon ranger station.
Horses. Visitor horse corrals are available at Dog Canyon campground. Only daytime horse trips are permitted in the backcountry, a permit is required.
Wilderness Camping. Wilderness camping outside of the established campgrounds (such as Dog Canyon Campground) requires a permit. You may reserve Guadalupe Mountains National Park Wilderness Permit in advance or obtain one first-come, first-served. You must visit the Pine Springs Visitor Center (open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m daily except holidays) to pick up all wilderness camping permits.
Non-Transferable. Campsite reservations are non-transferable.
Before you book a campsite-- review all information about that specific site. If you reserve a site that is not designed for your RV or Tent, you may be asked to leave, without refund.
Contact Information
This location has limited staffing. Please call (915) 828-3251 for general information.
GUMO_information@nps.gov
