Length: 7.43 mi
Est. time: 4h 12m
Gain: 3,388 ft
Loss: 1,065 ft
Max elev: 7,813 ft
Elevation profile
+3,388 ft gain · −1,065 ft loss — an estimate from a DEM.
Trailhead parking (Place)
Mescalero Wilderness Campground (Campground)
McKittrick Ridge
⏱ For most hikers, plan to take from eight to twelve hours round-trip to complete the hike. McKittrick Ridge can be done as a long day hike or as a overnight multi-day trip.
🗓 winter, spring, summer, fall
Overnight on McKittrick Ridge
⏱ The need to carry all water with you is the primary limiting factor for all Wilderness trips in the Guadalupe Mountains.
🗓 winter, spring, summer, fall
Plan smart, verify on site
Length, elevation, and difficulty are estimates derived from open data (NPS Public Trails GIS, high confidence) — not a safety guarantee. Conditions change; check current closures, weather, and water, and carry the essentials. Always defer to NPS.gov and park rangers.