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SCENIC BYWAY

McKittrick Canyon Scenic Road

4.2 miles: 0 hours, 7 minutes

The craggy slopes of the Guadalupe Mountains loom just out of reach in the distance on this desert drive punctuated by low-lying scrub. Take McKittrick Canyon Scenic Road to the McKittrick Canyon Trail, where you’ll find excellent hiking in terrain ranging from desert to highland forest. This access road to Guadalupe Mountains National Park closes at sunset.

DenisTangneyJr/iStockphoto.com

The land encompassing McKittrick Canyon was once engulfed by a shallow ocean; today, the steep-walled valley glows with autumn color and springtime blossoms. Vegetation spans from desert scrub to high-elevation alpine trees and supports a mixed bag of wildlife. A spring-fed creek along the short, scenic McKittrick Canyon Scenic Road attracts deer, raccoons and the occasional Rio Grande leopard frog.

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